The 13th KCSB Exhibition:
BEYOND MINHWA
Yoonsun Choi | Sunhee Hur | Yoonkyung An
Minhwa is traditional Korean folk art from the Joseon Dynasty (13-19th Century) to express everyday lives. Three Minhwa artists in Boston recreate and re-interprete Minhwa in the contemporary context.
November 7-22, 2026
Opening Reception: Sunday, November 8, 2-4 pm
LexArt's Nye Gallery
130 Waltham St, Lexington, MA
Yoonsun Choi
My Minhwa(민화) is rooted in traditional Korean techniques such as layered washes, controlled bleeding, and tonal variation. Pigments are prepared by hand, grinding mineral colors and mixing them with traditional glue. This process allows the pigments to be gently absorbed into Hanji (traditional Korean paper), creating soft gradations and organic textures. Hanji has a unique surface holding multiple layers of pigment, and results in a warm, luminous quality.
Each motif has a symbolic meaning. A peony represents wealth and prosperity, while a butterfly symbolizes joy. Personally, a butterfly also reflects uncertainty and transformation—moving freely and unpredictably, much like life itself.
Sunhee Hur
Minhwa artist Sunhee Hur also has a great passion for ceramics as well.
Her Minhwa works are after Chaek-geo-ri (책거리) style, which is a genre of Korean still-life painting from the Joseon dynasty that translates to "books and things" It utilizes illusionistic Western-style linear perspective and shading,
Yoonkyung An
