Jeju Museum to hold special exhibition of Kim Jeong-hui's 'Sehando'

▲ This photo, provided by the Jeju National Museum, shows the poster of the special exhibition, "Sehando, The reunion of Chusa and Jeju". (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, provided by the Jeju National Museum, shows a "Sehando". The special exhibition, "Sehando, The reunion of Chusa and Jeju" is opening. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, provided by the Jeju National Museum, shows a portrait of Kim Jeong-hui. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) --  Chusa Kim Jeong-hui's masterpiece, "Sehando(Wintry Days)" is visiting Jeju for the first time in 178 years.

The National Museum of Jeju is holding a special exhibition called "Sehando, The reunion of Chusa and Jeju" from April 5th to May 29th, mainly basing it on "Sehando" painted by Kim Jeong-hui when he was living in exile in Jeju Isalnd. Chusa is his penname. 

This exhibition, which presents 'Sehando' for the first time in 178 years in Jeju, where it was painted, was viewed through the special exhibition called "Evergreens in Wintry Days" in the National Museum of Korea to commemorate the donation of "Sehando" by the art collector Sohn Chang-keun.

Thirteen pieces including "Sehando," "Portrait of Kim Jeong-hui" were presented together to provide a broad view of Kim Jeong-hui's life along with his artistic world.

In the first part of the exhibition, "Sehan's Time," Kim Jeong-hui's experiences and emotions which are demonstrated through the eyes of a stranger catches the eye.

Jean-Julien Pous, a French filmmaker and media artist, melts the pain and despair of the Jeju island from a unique perspective. Additionally, a scroll (total size 33.5 x 1,469.5cm) which contains positive comments and literary figures by important figures of Korea and the Qing Dynasty regarding the Sehando will be revealed for the time in two years followed by the exhibition in Seoul.

In the second part of the exhibition, "Songbaek's Heart," which can be translated to "A pine tree's heart" exhibits the unchanging love between Kim Jeong-hui and his friends as well as his students along with his artistic world. Letters exchanged between his friend, Choyusensa (1786~1866) and his student Heo Ryeon (1808~1893), along with the seals made my Oh Gyuil shows the time in Jeju, when the period of sorrow was broken down into art.

Kim Jeong-hui's art and literature was inherited by people including the 20th century calligrapher Oh Se-chang, calligraphy and retired congressman Son Jae-hyun, Japanese scholar Fujitsuka Chikashi and many more. With a new addition called "Jangmusangmang", a handwriting of the independence activist, Lee Si-young, a deeper look at Kim Jeong-hui's art will be portrayed. In the last area, another piece, "Bulliseollando" that has been donated by Mr. Sohn Chang-keun will also be exhibited, allowing one to look back on the meaning of donation while appreciating Chusa Kim Jeong-hui's art.

This exhibition is especially meaningful as "Sehando" will be exhibited in Jeju island, where it was originally made.

It is expected to be a time for the residents and the tourists of Jeju to reflect on the Korean culture as they look back on the value of donation.

On the other hand, followed by the exhibition, on the 23rd, there will be a special lecture by the Chair Professor Yoo Hong-joon of Myongji University, who has been studying Chusa Kim Jeong-hui for a long time.

Kim Jeong-hui, who was at the center of Joseon's literature in the first half of the 19th century was exiled to Jeju in 1840 at the age of 55. During the Sehan (translated to the crucial coldness of before and after the Lunar New Year, symbolizing the coldness and struggle of life) which lasted 8 years and 4 months, Kim Jeong-hui painted "Sehando" to show gratitude for his student named Yi Sang-jeok, who continued to send books during his exile.

(This article has been translated from Korean to English by Haemin Kim.)

(END)

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved