Artist Ahn Chang-su Receives 1st Yangsan City Artist Award

Awarding of Plaques at Year-End Ceremony on 31st, Recognition for Contributions to Regional Culture and Arts Development

On the 31st, Yangsan City in Gyeongnam awarded a plaque to painter Ahn Chang-su, who was selected as the first recipient of the Yangsan City Artist Award at the 2024 year-end ceremony.

Mayor Na Dong-yeon (left) presenting the award plaque to painter Ahn Chang-su, who was selected as the recipient of the 1st Yangsan City Artist Award. Photo by Yangsan City

The Yangsan City Artist Award was established to discover contributors to the development of local culture and arts and to encourage artists' creative motivation. One winner is selected every two years in each of the three categories: ▲Literature ▲Visual Arts ▲Performing Arts. The honor of the first award went to painter Ahn Chang-su in the Visual Arts category.

Ahn Chang-su (born 1945) is an Oriental painter who studied in China and Japan, and since 2009, he has actively engaged in creative activities by holding 21 solo exhibitions both domestically and internationally.

In particular, he donated 22 works to various local sites such as Ssangbyeokru Art Hall, Yangsan City Council, Yangsan City Library, Yangsan Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, and Dong-myeon Geumbit Village Senior Center, expanding cultural enjoyment opportunities for citizens.

He has also contributed to local art education through lectures at the Yangsan Cultural Center and Yangsan Lifelong Learning Center. In 2021, he held the ‘Neighbor Sharing Exhibition’ at the Yangsan Business Center, donating the proceeds to Yangsan City, leading social contribution activities through culture and arts. He also holds domestic and international awards such as the Gold Prize at the China Baizhou National Calligraphy and Painting Art Exhibition (2006) and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Award at the Japanese Ink Painting Masterpiece Selection (2016).

Mayor Na Dong-yeon said, “Painter Ahn Chang-su has greatly contributed not only to artistic activities but also to the development of the local community,” adding, “Our city will continue to spare no support so that artists can carry on their creative activities more actively.”