10th Anniversary of Chun Kyungja: Exhibition Opens at Seoul Museum of Art on the 24th
Over 80 Works from the 1940s to 1990s on Display
"Portrait of a Beauty" Excluded Due to Authenticity Dispute
To mark the 10th anniversary of the passing of artist Chun Kyungja (1924-2015), who left a precedent by donating 57 colored paintings, 39 drawings, and art supplies such as brushes and paints to the Seoul Museum of Art, as well as returning her copyrights and works to society, an exhibition has been organized to bring together her works in one place. This is the largest exhibition ever held since Chun's final exhibition during her lifetime, "The 82 Beautiful Pages of My Life," at Gallery Hyundai in 2006, and it is being held 20 years later.
Interior view of the exhibition "The 49 Pages of My Sad Legend," which opened on the 24th at Seoul Museum of Art. Provided by Seoul Museum of Art
The Seoul Museum of Art is hosting a special exhibition, "The 101 Pages of My Sad Legend," from September 24, 2025, to January 15, 2026, at the M1 Exhibition Hall in its main building in Buam-dong, Seoul. The exhibition gathers around 80 works by Chun from 18 museums and private collectors, including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gallery Hyundai, and the Amorepacific Museum of Art, as well as literary museums. The exhibition focuses on works and publications from the 1940s to the 1990s, as well as archives documenting her growth and creative process. The exhibition title is derived from her autobiography, "The 49 Pages of My Sad Legend."
The exhibited works include paintings Chun created as the only female among ten war artists dispatched to the Vietnam War, where she spent over 20 days in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City). In her light-colored paintings, visitors can spot images of Mangho Unit soldiers holding guns. "Flowers, Soldiers, and the Sound of Guns," which contrasts scenes of slaughter with flowers, will be released to the public starting September 26, two days after the exhibition opens, with the cooperation of the Ministry of National Defense.
Paintings inspired by her experiences abroad are also on display. Chun spent extended periods overseas 13 times over 25 years, and many landscapes and portraits inspired by her stays in the United States, Italy, Spain, Thailand, and other countries are being unveiled.
Interior view of the exhibition "The 49 Pages of My Sad Legend," which opened on the 24th at Seoul Museum of Art. Provided by Seoul Museum of Art
The colored painting "Grassland II" (1978), which drew attention for fetching a high price at auction, will also be on display. This work was sold for 2 billion won (approximately 1.5 million USD) at a domestic auction in 2018. Inspired by her 1974 trip to Africa, the painting depicts a nude woman among lions, zebras, buffaloes, and elephants in the wild.
Many of her portraits of women are also being unveiled. Chun's portraits of women are characterized by their vibrant realism, closely reflecting everyday life. She often features autobiographical or transcendent figures as protagonists, expressing the solitude and longing within their lives, as well as her own emotions and sentiments.
Chun also made her presence felt in the publishing world with her engaging essays and book cover illustrations. She interacted with popular writers of her time, and her artwork adorned the covers of various books. "Woman," which features a striking contrast between a blue figure and a yellow butterfly, appeared on the cover of the June 1969 issue (Vol. 15, No. 6) of "Hyundae Munhak." Visitors can also view over 80 magazines and books decorated with her illustrations.
Interior view of the exhibition "The 49 Pages of My Sad Legend," which opened on the 24th at Seoul Museum of Art. Provided by Seoul Museum of Art
The exhibition space is composed of seven themed galleries and one memorial space, each filled with messages from people who had a connection with Chun or who represent those spaces. Touching messages are provided by Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon, Gallery Hyundai Chairwoman Park Myungja, War Memorial Business Association Chairman Baek Seungjoo, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Chief Curator Kim Inhye, and Samsung Publishing Museum Director Kim Jongkyu, among others.
The Seoul Museum of Art stated, "We do not wish for phrases like 'forgery controversy' or 'Portrait of a Beauty incident' to follow Chun Kyungja as descriptors," adding, "We planned this exhibition to honor her as a great artist who, even amid the major storms of modern history, never put down her brush and devoted herself to developing her unique artistic style."
Chun Kyungja claimed in 1991 that "Portrait of a Beauty," held by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, was not her work. The dispute over the authenticity of the piece continued with the museum until after her death, and prosecutors eventually concluded that the work was genuine. However, Chun's daughter filed a lawsuit for damages against the government, arguing that the prosecution had made false claims, but recently lost the case. However, this ruling only determined that the prosecution's investigation was not unlawful; it did not make a judgment on the authenticity of the artwork itself.
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