Lim Nosik and Park Seongwan Win Special Prize
The city of Gwangju announced on July 8 that it has selected four recipients for the '2025 Gwangju City Culture and Arts Awards: Art Awards'.
In the Korean painting category, the main prize of the 'Heo Baekryeon Art Award' went to Jin Won Jang (58, Gwangju), while the special prize was awarded to Nosik Lim (36, Seoul). In the Western painting category, the main prize of the 'Oh Jiho Art Award' was given to Heewon Han (70, Gwangju), and the special prize went to Seongwan Park (41, Gwangju).
The city plans to present the main prize winners with a plaque from the Mayor of Gwangju, 10 million KRW in creative activity funding for the following year, and an exhibition opportunity. Special prize winners will receive 5 million KRW in creative activity funding.
The 'Gwangju City Culture and Arts Awards: Art Awards' were established in 1992 to honor the artistic spirit of Heo Baekryeon (1891?1977) and Oh Jiho (1905?1982), masters of modern and contemporary Korean art, and to discover artists who have engaged in creative artistic activities. As of this year, a total of 101 artists have received the award.
Jin Won Jang was highly praised for establishing a unique style by interpreting Korean painting in a modern way through ink-based abstract painting. After majoring in Korean painting at Chosun University, Jang moved to New York in the 2000s and has since experimented with the deconstruction and reconstruction of traditional painting using mixed media on hanji and ink. Jang's work has particularly explored themes related to meditation, the afterlife, and religion, focusing on the spiritual aspects that lead to the poetic conception of Eastern painting.
Heewon Han, who began in the Minjung art movement, has continued to create lyrical paintings that address philosophical themes such as existence and time. Han has been recognized for contributing to the revitalization of local culture by operating the Heewon Han Art Museum in Yangnim-dong, Gwangju, and promoting the Yangnim Alley Biennale. Han's artistic achievements, marked by the development of a unique style and a commitment to the social practice of art, are considered to be in line with the artistic legacy of Oh Jiho.
Nosik Lim has been reinterpreting traditional East Asian aesthetics in a contemporary way through the expression of blank space and lines, while Seongwan Park has drawn attention for works that remain true to the essence of painting while reflecting the era, focusing on historical sites and events.
Starting this year, the city strengthened its nomination and judging committees by appointing a balanced group of experts from both inside and outside the region, thereby enhancing the fairness and prestige of the awards. The final recipients were selected through a two-stage evaluation process from among 29 candidates.
Yoon Ik, director of the Gwangju Museum of Art, stated, "I hope that, through the four artists who have inherited the artistic spirit of Heo Baekryeon and Oh Jiho, the Gwangju City Art Awards will grow into an international art award beyond the local community."
Meanwhile, the '2025 Art Awards' ceremonies will be held on September 18 for the Heo Baekryeon Art Award and on November 21 for the Oh Jiho Art Award, in conjunction with a commemorative invitational exhibition for last year's winners.
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