Minhwa (Korean folk painting) literally means “paintings of people” and is a popular painting form from 17th century to the late Joseon Dynasty. The Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong (KCCHK) is currently running the “Minhwa Exhibition: RAON & Destiny” until 9 December 2023. I went to KCCHK to see the exhibition on 18 November.

The exhibition featured 25 paintings by talented member artists of RAON in Hong Kong, a Minhwa studio. While many paintings depicted familiar subjects such as flowers, birds, insects, landscapes, and human figures, the exhibition also included lesser-known themes like Munjado (Painting of Characters), Chaekgado (Painting of Books and Things), and Hopido (Painting of Tiger Stripe).

Among the exhibits, Kyoungran Kim’s paintings of tiger stripe stood out to me personally. Previously, I was unaware of paintings dedicated to tiger stripes. Through bold and dynamic brushwork, Kim’s artworks brought the intricate patterns and textures of tiger fur to life, giving them a sense of movement and energy. The tiger stripes were so vivid and authentic that it felt as if there was a live tiger somewhere in the painting.

The exhibition provided me a with a glimpse into the diverse themes within Minhwa and highlighted the impressive artistic skills of contemporary Minhwa artists.