Earlier this year in the U.S., we at Kbean had the incredible opportunity to host the “Minhwa Meets Multimedia” Challenge. Our ambition was to celebrate and extend the reach of Korean folk painting—Minhwa—by merging its rich tradition with digital media, making it accessible to a global audience.
About Minhwa
Minhwa—literally “painting of the people”—is a Korean folk art form that emerged in its distinctive form around the late Joseon era. It was practiced and appreciated by ordinary people, in contrast to court‑art produced for the elite. For generations, Minhwa decorated homes, temples, and objects with motifs of protection, prosperity, longevity and joy. Today, its bright colours, expressive style and symbolic imagery continue to resonate—and offer fertile ground for modern reinterpretation.
Our Challenge
Running from January 10 to March 16, 2025, the challenge brought together 31 unique submissions, blending traditional materials (like Hanji paper and color pigment) with digital formats (photo files, video works). We believe that by digitising Minhwa, we reduce the barriers of physical exhibition and invite everyday engagement—even across continents.
Judging Criteria
We evaluated the works using four key criteria:
- Adherence to Traditional elements – How faithfully symbolic meanings and traditional elements of Minhwa were represented
- Creativity and interpretation – How the artists re‑imagined traditional motifs with a fresh, modern perspective
- Artistry – Technical skill, visual completeness, and for videos: audio–visual coherence
- Empathy – How well the work resonated with viewers, sparked curiosity, and conveyed the artist’s intent
Celebrating the Winners
- Gold Award: Yoonjung Lim – Constancy of Circulation
- Silver Award: Jungsook Koo – Get Well Soon, Friend
- Bronze Award: Minjung Kim – Magpie and Dreaming Tiger & Jaeun Lim – Metaphor in Happiness
Exhibition & Next Steps
All entries, including award‑winners, are viewable in our online virtual gallery, and a selection was exhibited outside the U.S. at the San Francisco Members Club. Digital works were available for purchase; proceeds go directly to the artists.
Looking ahead, the 2nd Minhwa Challenge will run from January 10 to April 30, 2026, and we eagerly look forward to the next wave of creativity bridging tradition and innovation. Participation details will be available soon at our website.
Take 2026 Challenge HERE
Contact Information:
Email: salt@kbean.com
Website: www.kbean.com
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