Eyes on the 'Cheon Gyeongja 100th Birth Anniversary Special Exhibition'

Goheung-gun, Over 11,000 Visitors Nationwide Respond Positively Since Opening on November 11

Gohung-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Gong Young-min) announced that many visitors from all over the country are visiting the "Brilliant Legend Cheon Kyung-ja, 100th Anniversary Special Exhibition."

This exhibition opened on November 11, the birthday of painter Cheon Kyung-ja, in her hometown Gohung to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the painter's birth. As of the 3rd, more than 11,000 people have visited the exhibition hall, and on weekends, more than 1,000 visitors flock daily.

Many visitors from all over the country are attending the special exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of Cheon Kyung-ja's birth, held at the Goheung Buncheong Culture Museum. Provided by Goheung County

The exhibition, consisting of seven sections, organically connects the eras and themes from "Gille Unnie (Gohung Period)" to the final section "Brilliant Legend," providing a three-dimensional spotlight on Cheon Kyung-ja's intense artistic spirit and life.

At the Gohung Buncheong Culture Museum, a total of 160 works are on display, including 29 color paintings such as ▲Twilight with Tango ▲Full Catch ▲Artistic Spirit ▲Man Holding Dried Yellow Croaker ▲Ainu Woman ▲Pansy ▲Gille Unnie II ▲Jeong ▲Nude Oil Painting from Paris Period, 23 drawings, 6 ink paintings on Korean paper, and 102 archival items.

Visitors spend a long time in front of representative works of Cheon Kyung-ja’s artistic world such as Gille Unnie II, Jeong, and Twilight with Tango, responding positively to the unique composition of this special exhibition by examining various unpublished photos, exhibition leaflets, and handwritten letters.

Visitors gathered from regions such as Seoul, Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, and Yeongnam expressed great emotion, saying that through the exhibition of works from the 1950s and 1960s displayed for the first time in decades, as well as rarely accessible works and materials, they could gain a deeper understanding of the artist’s artistic world and life.

In addition, media artist Lee Lee-nam, inspired by Cheon Kyung-ja’s works, reinterpreted the beautiful nature of Gohung and Cheon Kyung-ja’s artistic world through media art, which has been evaluated as fresh.

Choi Sung-ja, president of the "Association Loving Cheon Kyung-ja," who is assisting with the exhibition on-site, said, “I am very pleased that Cheon Kyung-ja’s exhibition is being held in Gohung,” and added, “I hope everyone will definitely visit this precious exhibition, which has about a month left.”

A county official said, “This exhibition is evaluated as a success in fostering the cultural pride and affection of the residents for Cheon Kyung-ja and enhancing her symbolism as a representative artist of Gohung and Korea,” adding, “It will serve as a solid foundation for the ongoing Cheon Kyung-ja commemorative projects.”

Meanwhile, for special exhibition visitors, museum guides provide free exhibition explanations four times a day. The exhibition is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until December 31, with the last admission at 5 p.m. It is closed every Monday, and admission is free.