Kwangju Bank Holds 8th Gwangju Hwaru Awards Ceremony

On the 1st, Gwangju Bank held the awards ceremony for the 8th Gwangjuhwaro Contest and the Gwangjuhwaro 10 Artists Exhibition. Photo by Gwangju Bank

Gwangju Bank (President Ko Byungil) announced on the 2nd that it held the awards ceremony for the '8th Gwangju Hwaru Art Contest' and the 'Gwangju Hwaru 10 Artists Exhibition'.

The event, held on the 1st at Gwangju Bank's headquarters, was attended by Ko Byungil, President of Gwangju Bank, Shin Sujeong, Chairperson of Gwangju Metropolitan Council, Ko Gwangwan, Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs of Gwangju Metropolitan City, Lim Taek, Mayor of Dong-gu District, and contest winners.

Since 2016, Gwangju Bank has been organizing the 'Gwangju Hwaru' art contest for Korean painting artists nationwide. This exhibition features 20 works by 10 award-winning artists from the contest.

The Gwangju Hwaru Art Contest began accepting applications in October, and out of about 150 applicants, 10 artists were finally selected through a rigorous three-stage evaluation process: portfolio screening, artwork review, and in-depth interviews. The Grand Prize was awarded to artist Kim Jeongok, the Excellence Prize to artist Park Sejin, and the Merit Prize to artists Kim Hongseong, Park Hyeongjin, and Jeon Jihong. In addition, the Honorable Mention recipients were artists Ki Minjeong, Oh Segyeong, Choi Hyeyeon, Ham Suji, and Heo Yongseong.

The winners receive prize money and the opportunity to participate in the 'Gwangju Hwaru 10 Artists Exhibition'. The prize amounts are 30 million KRW for the Grand Prize (1 person), 20 million KRW for the Excellence Prize (1 person), 10 million KRW each for the Merit Prize (3 people), and 2 million KRW each for the Honorable Mention (5 people).

The 'Gwangju Hwaru Art Contest' boasts the largest scale in the country, with no restrictions on region or age. As a result, a wide variety of works are submitted and compete, ranging from pieces by young artists aiming to debut in the Korean painting scene to experimental works by established artists.

This year, in particular, saw a high participation rate, and visitors can appreciate works that reflect the artistic concerns and introspection of young artists through their delicate techniques and unique modes of expression.

The 'Gwangju Hwaru 10 Artists Exhibition' will be held at the Gwangju Bank Art Hall on the first floor of Gwangju Bank headquarters until the 31st of next month. It is open to the public free of charge on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ko Byungil, President of Gwangju Bank, said, "For the past eight years, Gwangju Bank has been carrying out cultural and artistic sponsorship projects to discover talented artists and support their creative activities for the promotion of Korean painting," adding, "We will continue to seek sustainable value so that the potential of Korean painting can expand globally, and further advance Gwangju Bank's ESG management."