Classic Stories in Fans Shared by Former Sungkyunkwan President Kim Young-geun

Seonmyeonjeon (扇面展): Let's Fan the Classics - Invitational Exhibition

Kim Young-geun, President of Sungkyunkwan. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Since the Joseon Dynasty, fans, especially folding fans, were almost exclusively the privilege of the yangban (Korean aristocracy). On the Dano Festival, the king personally gifted Dano fans (端午扇) to his officials, conveying a message to endure the heat safely and to bring a gentle breeze to comfort the people.

An exhibition reinterpreting the wisdom of ancestors and classical literature contained within fans is being held. The Insadong Art Plaza Gallery announced on the 23rd that Kim Younggeun, the 32nd head of Sungkyunkwan, will hold a solo exhibition titled "Seonmyeonjeon (扇面展): Let's Fan the Classics." In this exhibition, Director Kim will present over 200 new works featuring writings and paintings on fans that convey the words of the ancestors.

The word for fan, 'bu' (扇), meaning to create wind by hand, combined with 'chae' (채), meaning thin bamboo or tool, inspired the artist to reinterpret the spirit of the old scholars who exchanged greetings through fans, as well as the elegance and leisure of the ancestors, in his own unique way by incorporating writings and paintings.

As the exhibition title "Let's Fan the Classics" suggests, the artist's works embody the desire to keep the wisdom and lessons of the ancestors close and to feel the breeze they bring. The fan artworks maintain a continuity from tradition to modernity, which has garnered much interest and love over time.

Director Kim stated, "Since the old scholars exchanged fans on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, marking the start of the heat, the exhibition was planned to coincide with this beginning of summer." He added, "If a country's culture feels attractive, people naturally want to learn more. I hope this exhibition will confirm the great artistic spirit of Koreans, which has blossomed over 5,000 years of history, as it evolves into 'K-Traditional Culture' and becomes a new wave of Hallyu through fans."

Kim Younggeun, the 32nd head of Sungkyunkwan, previously served as the 23rd president of the Sungkyunkwan Confucian Association Headquarters and the inaugural president of the Gaya Tea Masters Association. He currently serves as the director of Gaho Seowon.

The exhibition will be held from the 25th to the 31st at the Insadong Art Plaza Gallery in Jongno-gu, Seoul.