E2024-G129
The Magician of Colors: Chun Kyung-Ja
Narrative
Chun Kyung-ja (1924-2015), considered the most prominent female artist of Korean modern and contemporary art history, is renowned for her vivid and colorful art, earning her the nickname “Magician of Colors.” Motifs in her works include female figures, flowers, and snakes.
Born in Goheung, Chun studied at Tokyo Women’s Art College in 1943-1944, during which time her paintings were accepted into the Korean National Exhibition two years in a row, highlighting her emerging talent on a national stage. Upon returning to Korea, she held exhibitions at the lecture halls of Jeonnam Girls’ High School (1946) and Gwangju Girls’ Middle School (1948) in Gwangju, before taking up a lecture position at the Department of Fine Arts at Chosun University in 1949. In particular, one of her most notable works, “State of Life” (1951), depicting a swarm of poisinous snakes, was created during her time living in Gwangju.
In 1978, Chun was named a member of the Korean National Academy of Arts in acknowledgment of her artistic contributions and won the academy’s award the following year, cementing her status as an influential figure in Korean art. In the 1990s, Chun moved to the U.S. following a scandal surrounding a forgery of her work, where she remained the rest of her life. A permanent exhibition of her works is kept at the Seoul City Museum of Art.
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