Gansong Art Museum 'Gansong Collection Authentication and Geunyeok Hwahwi' Exhibition
Introducing 108 Pieces Authenticated by Wichang
Revealing Hidden Stories Including Acquisition Details
Admission Fee Introduced After 53 Years
"Having created an exceptionally rare painting that the whole world can cherish as a treasure, isn't that admirable? It took several years for Jeon Gansong to resolutely acquire this album, sparing no expense to purchase it and make it a precious secret treasure. I am now borrowing it to appreciate and immediately write this note at the end of the album."
Wi-chang Oh Se-chang (1864?1953), a connoisseur representing the modern art world, left his appreciation on Shin Yun-bok's Hyewon Jeonsin Album with these words. A special exhibition that allows us to examine the discerning eye of Oh, who was Jeon Gansong’s (1906?1962) mentor and greatly contributed to forming the Gansong Collection, is being held.
On the 15th, the Gansong Art and Culture Foundation and Gansong Museum held a press conference at the Gansong Museum in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, announcing the exhibition "Wi-chang Oh Se-chang: Connoisseurship of the Gansong Collection and the Flourishing of Modern Painting" to commemorate the symbolic figure of the modern art world, Oh Se-chang. This exhibition is the second in a three-year plan starting this spring through 2026 to reexamine the formation process of the Gansong Collection. This year also marks the 160th anniversary of Wi-chang’s birth.
Jeon Hyeongpil (fourth from the right) and Oh Sechang (fifth from the right). [Photo by Gansong Art Museum]
Wi-chang was one of the 33 national representatives, an independence activist, journalist, enlightenment activist, calligrapher, seal engraver, and collector?an influential figure indispensable when discussing modern history and culture.
This special exhibition introduces a total of 52 works and 108 pieces from the Gansong Collection that passed through Oh Se-chang’s discerning eye, showcased through his colophons and certificates of authenticity (sangseo, which are signatures and seals by the artist or connoisseur on boxes containing calligraphy or paintings to guarantee authenticity). On the first floor exhibition hall, visitors can see calligraphy, paintings, and seals that Oh Se-chang presented to Gansong, as well as calligraphy collected directly by Gansong.
Featured are works such as ‘Hanjungcheongsang Album’ by Lee In-mun, a contemporary painter who rivaled Danwon Kim Hong-do, and ‘Hyewon Jeonsin Album’ by Hyewon Shin Yun-bok, including colophons reflecting Wi-chang’s connoisseurship. ‘Hwajeong’ by Jeongmyeong Gongju, the first princess of King Seonjo and Queen Inmok, is an unprecedented masterpiece of calligraphy by a Joseon woman that immediately captivates visitors. According to the ‘Diary Ledger’ documenting the purchase history of calligraphy and antiques from 1936 to 1938 by Jeon Hyeong-pil, this work was once held by Oh Se-chang and acquired in 1937 by Okjeongyeonjae, one of Gansong’s main collection sites. As recorded, the calligraphy and seals displayed here are confirmed to be part of the so-called ‘Cheonjukjae Collection’ gathered by Oh Gyeong-seok, Oh Se-chang’s father and a disciple of Chusa Kim Jeong-hui.
On the second floor exhibition hall, visitors can encounter three types of ‘Geunyeokhwahwi’ (7 volumes, 1 volume, and 3 volumes) held by the Gansong Museum, along with 39 representative works totaling 46 pieces included in them. As introduced in the exhibition title, Geunyeokhwahwi is an album rigorously compiled under the name Geunyeok (a land abundant with mugunghwa, the Korean rose of Sharon), symbolizing Korea, featuring selected paintings by past calligraphers and painters. It is called the ‘highlight of Korean painting history.’ Until now, it was known that there were two types of Geunyeokhwahwi albums in Korea?one at the Seoul National University Museum and one at the Gansong Museum. However, this exhibition reveals for the first time that the Gansong Museum holds three types of Geunyeokhwahwi and discloses their detailed contents.
This exhibition presents 14 pieces including 4 covers of the three types of Geunyeokhwahwi held by the Gansong Museum, as well as 35 works by 35 artists, such as ‘Yangdo’ painted with delicate and meticulous brushwork by King Gongmin, the 31st ruler of Goryeo, and ‘Seongjaesugan’ by Muho Lee Han-bok, a modern calligrapher and painter. Also exhibited are ‘Seogwatuseo’ by female painter Wolseong Kim, ‘Buguihojeom’ by Lee Kyung-seung, who demonstrated exceptional skill in 19th-century butterfly paintings, and ‘Gwaeseokhwajeop’ by Kim Gi-byeong.
On the morning of the 15th, an official is viewing the exhibition "Wichang Oh Se-chang: Gansong Collection Authentication and Geunyeok Hwahui" at the Gansong Art Museum in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Geunyeok Hwahui is an album compiled by Wichang Oh Se-chang, selecting paintings by Korea's historical calligraphers and painters. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Since the first ‘Gyeomjae Exhibition’ in 1971, the Gansong Museum has held free exhibitions for 53 years. Starting with this exhibition, it will switch to a paid admission system (5,000 KRW for adults, 3,000 KRW for youth and children). Regarding this, Director Jeon In-geon said, “It was an unavoidable decision for the sustainable operation of the museum,” adding, “The fee was set at the minimum necessary cost for museum operation.” The funds secured through paid admission will be used for research, preservation, and exhibitions of cultural heritage. The exhibition runs until December 1.
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