Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) and Korean Cultural Centre (KCC) UK celebrate the centenary of Korean comics ‘Manhwa’ with a host of interrelated special exhibitions, events and film screenings.
Korean Cultural Centre UK, London, MANHWA 100, Centenary of Korean Comics, exhibition and events, opens 6.30-8.30pm, check for full details:www.kccuk.org.uk
Manhwa: A Language of Unlimited Imaginations
Manhwa celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2009. This popular art form holds a long and cherished history that began with the first publication of Do-young Lee’s political cartoons in “Daehan Minbo.” This print newspaper was founded on June 2, 1909, and Manhwa was born along with it. Manhwa is an art form used to comment on a wide variety of topics. It can often spotlight societal injustices. Sometimes, Manhwa tells marvelous tales of dreamy romance. Other times, the art form simply uses its simplified figures and their exaggerated gestures to provide amusement and entertainment. To this day, Manhwa continues to evolve and hold a special place within the hearts and minds of Korean society.
We can examine the history of Manhwa by identifying unique traits within each distinct era and observe how the beloved authors of each generation interacted with the public. Following its birth, Manhwa had to endure Korea’s tumultuous history under Japanese colonial rule. Manhwa survived the time periods of national liberation, the dark years of the Korean War, and through the dismal military dictatorship. The 80’s and 90’s of the 20th century marked the renaissance of Manhwa. Manhwa published during these bygone eras help us reflect on our nation’s past.
On the other hand, the new work from the year 2000 and onwards employs digital media technology. These works allow us to interpret present-day Korean comics in a new light and maybe even predict the industry’s future.
Art Toon Art:
Art Toon Art brings together the work of twelve artists including Dong-Hwa Kim and Young-Ok Kim, whose work humorously pushes the boundaries of conventional comic book art by reinterpreting famous masterpieces. This small display is derived from the exhibition Masterpieces Meet Comics which is held annually in Korea and is based on the theme of convergence between comics and art.
Manhwa Illustrations
A small collection of work by famous graphic illustrators including Min-Woo Hyung and Kwang-Mook Lim is shown together for the first time.
