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| ▲ This photo provided by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) shows the late dancheong master Hong Jeom-seok. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) — State-run National Intangible Heritage Center (NIHC) announced on Monday that it will launch an exhibition spotlighting the life and work of a master craftsman who devoted himself to preserving dancheong, the traditional multicolored decorative painting found on palaces and temples.
Titled “The World of Lotus Flower Form and Dancheong, Seok‑un Hong Jeom‑seok,” the show runs from Aug. 8 to Sept. 7 in the permanent gallery on the first floor of the Open Maru building in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province.
The event centers on 39 items donated by the late Hong Jeom‑seok (1939–2024), a designated holder of the national intangible cultural heritage for dancheong, and offers a comprehensive look at his artistic universe and the enduring beauty of traditional dancheong.
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| ▲ This photo provided by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) shows the "daeryangcho dancheong pattern" created by late dancheong master Hong Jeom-seok. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
The exhibition opens with a survey of Hong’s diverse works, bringing together pieces he displayed in previous heritage holder exhibitions, including “Blue Dragon and White Tiger Dancheong Pattern,” “Dae‑ryangcho Dancheong Pattern,” “Gold Dancheong Hyeonmu‑do,” and a “Replica of Dancheong at Tongdosa Temple in Yangsan.”
A lifelong commitment to dancheong also takes center stage. As a child, Hong visited mountain hermitages where he developed a passion for Buddhist art, including dancheong and Buddhist paintings known as “tanghwa.” He began his professional journey in 1969 as part of the Jogye Order’s dancheong motif survey team.
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| ▲ This photo provided by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) shows the "geumdancheong hyeonmu-do" painted by late dancheong master Hong Jeom-seok. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
After serving as a training scholarship student in 1977 and as a candidate holder in 1982, Hong was formally recognized as a dancheong master in 1997, just shy of his 60th birthday, and thereafter dedicated himself fully to passing on the tradition. Exhibits include his detailed work logs, the work uniform he wore during dancheong projects, and the official documents certifying his holder status.
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| ▲ This photo provided by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) shows the certificate of designation (left) and work uniform (right) of late dancheong master Hong Jeom-seok. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Also on view is his “Dancheong Pattern Folding Screen,” reflecting his belief that filling lotus motifs with vibrant colors is the supreme means of glorifying the Buddha’s realm. A panoramic video installation showcases the temple buildings across Korea on which he worked.
“We hope visitors will reflect anew on a life spent preserving and transmitting dancheong, an art form with a long history,” an official from the National Intangible Heritage Center said.
The exhibition is closed on Mondays.
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| ▲ This photo provided by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) shows the late dancheong master Hong Jeom-seok. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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