Minjung Art Forms: Woodcuts

Narrative

One of the key forms of Minjung art, or “people’s art,” is the woodcut print (panhwa). A number of woodcut prints were made to convey and commemorate the events of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. The most representative 220 among them were curated by the Justice and Peace Committee of Gwangju Diocese as the Citizens’ Woodblock Cut Collection in 1986. Among them include works by the renowned artist Hong Seong-dam (1955-), such as his piece, “Haetbul haengjin” (Torchlight March). The importance of these works were recognized by the Japanese artist Tomiyama Taeko (1921-2021), who promoted them in her activism against imperialism in East Asia. This story of art and resistance is also preserved by figures like Ha Jung-woong (1939-), a Korean-Japanese art collector, who some of Hong’s works to the Gwangju Museum of Art, ensuring that the legacy of courage and creativity endures for future generations to witness.

type	resource	title	description/caption	URL
기사	Chonnam Tribune	May Spirit of Gwangju Reborn Through Arts		https://tribune.cnumedia.jnu.ac.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=20637
기사	Yonhap News	'Spring of Democracy' exhibition highlights records, emotions of Gwangju uprising		https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200528007800315