By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee

On January 1, 2025, a new history of Korean traditional arts will be written. At the New Year's Sehwa special exhibition held by the Korea Masters Association (Chairman Damwha Lee Jon-young), in the year of the snake, leather brush painter (Hyeokpil painter) Nam Sang-joon will be awarded a certificate of master and will receive a 200th scholarship of KRW 1,010,000 to commemorate his 101st birthday. This is a moment to honor his lifelong achievements and his dedication to the succession of traditional arts.

Hyeokpil painter Nam's achievements and dedication

From 1965 to 1984, Nam Sang-joon established his artistic foundation by researching and developing leather brush painting of Chinese, Japanese, and English characters. Since 1977, he has worked as a Hyeokpil painter in San Francisco, Miami, New Orleans, and other cities in the United States, gaining international recognition.

In the 2000s, he traveled to Osaka, Japan, and other department stores and festivals across the country to promote the beauty of traditional arts through traveling exhibitions and demonstrations. Since 2008, he has served as an advisory board member of the Korea Association of Craft Artists, teaching the leather brush painting and passing on the tradition to people in Korea and abroad.

In 2023, he was selected for the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Traditional Culture Support Project and continued his education and exhibitions, and was invited to the Seoul Museum of Arts and Crafts, Bukchon Gahoe Folk Painting Museum, and Yeongwol Kim Satgat Memorial Hall to teach leather brush pinting. His dedication to promoting traditional arts to the public and passing on their values to the next generation has reminded us of the importance of Korean traditional culture.

Lee Jae-sam, master of finger painting (Jidoohwa) and palm painting (Sujanghwa)

Jidoohwa and Sujanghwa are unique oriental painting methods that use the hand as the medium without the use of tools. Jidouhwa uses the tips of the fingers to create delicate lines and dots, while Sujanghwa utilizes the entire palm of the hand to create bold curves and patterns.

Lee is a master of these traditional techniques, and his intuitive and sensual expression brings his works to life. Today, Jidoohwa and Sujanghwa continue to be recognized as a medium that bridges tradition and modernity, and he is dedicated to keeping these arts alive.

Setting up a studio to pass on traditional art

Nam Sang-joon, now 101, and Jidoohwa and Sujanghwa teacher Lee Jae-sam were struggling to train their students because they lacked a studio. They were teaching four students in the office of Lee Chil-yong, chairman of the Korea Craft Artists Association. Upon hearing this news, Chairman Lee Jon-young decided to provide an 8-pyeong studio near Exit 1 of Jonggak Station, Seoul. 

“I want to teach my students while riding the subway,” Nam said. This is a chance to fulfill his wish and open a new chapter in traditional art education. In addition, Chairman Lee has decided to actively support the promotion of Hyeokpilhwa and Jidoohwa through eight media outlets and recruit new students to help spread their artistic legacy.

The value and future of traditional arts

Hyeokpil painter Nam Sang-joon and Jidoohwa & Sujanghwa master Lee Jae-sam have dedicated their lives to educating the public about the importance of traditional arts and passing on their values to future generations. Their efforts are helping to keep Korean traditional arts alive and serve as a valuable bridge between modernity and tradition. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for their art.
 

To celebrate the new year, the opening ceremony of the Sehwa Special Exhibition will be held on January 1 at 2 p.m. on the second floor of the Insadong Museum of Korean Art, with performances by Hyeokpil painter Nam Sang-joon and Sujanghwa master Lee Jae-sam. More than 100 artists are expected to participate in the ceremony, and seven invited artists will also open their exhibitions alongside Sehwa exhibition. The exhibition is free to attend and will be on display from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until January 6.