Folk Paintings as Pop Art: Reinterpreting Joseon-Era Art through a Contemporary Lens

"Folk Painting, Joseon's Pop Art" Exhibition Poster

◆ Jointly hosted by the Korea Cultural Center in Osaka, Joseon Folk Painting Museum, and Korean Folk Art Museum, featuring 40 traditional and contemporary folk paintings, as well as merchandise

◆ An opportunity to explore the popular and modern characteristics of Korean traditional art in Japan through late Joseon-era and contemporary folk paintings

The Korea Cultural Center in Osaka (Director Kim Hae-sun, Tōtenmachi, Kita-ku, Osaka) is co-hosting the exhibition "Folk Painting, Joseon's Pop Art" with the Joseon Folk Painting Museum (Director Oh Seok-fan) and the Korean Folk Art Museum (Director Oh Seul-gi).

Curated by Director Oh Seul-gi of the Korean Folk Art Museum, this exhibition reconfigures the long-running "Flight of Folk Painting" series—previously showcased in South Korea—into a new format tailored for international audiences, introducing it to Japan under the theme "Folk Painting, Joseon's Pop Art."

The exhibition highlights the accessibility, boldness, and humor of folk paintings—qualities comparable to modern pop art—by presenting works from the late Joseon period alongside contemporary folk art.

While based on previous domestic exhibitions in Korea, the selection has been reorganized to emphasize pieces with strong popular appeal and symbolic meaning, making them more accessible and understandable for Japanese audiences.

Inside view of the "Folk Painting, Joseon's Pop Art" exhibition

The exhibition is divided into two main sections: "Traditional Folk Painting" and "Contemporary Folk Painting."

From the Korean Folk Art Museum’s collection, 20 representative traditional folk paintings are displayed, including works with pop-art-like characteristics such as "Chaedo" (paintings of bookshelves and stationery), "Jjakhodo" (magpies and tigers), and "Gaesuk Moran-do" (rock and peony motifs). Simultaneously, the exhibition features works by 20 leading contemporary folk artists who reinterpret these traditional images with bold colors, repetition, modern aesthetics, and wit.

Inside view of the "Folk Painting, Joseon's Pop Art" exhibition

The exhibition intuitively illustrates the close relationship between folk painting and pop art—such as the emergence of new consumer classes amid social change, and the transformation of elite-exclusive art into relatable imagery for the masses.

Folk art merchandise developed by Yul Art, the official art shop of the Joseon Folk Painting Museum and Korean Folk Art Museum, will be displayed at the exhibition entrance, showcasing the recent trend of reinterpreting folk painting symbols and motifs into characters and art goods.

Inside view of the "Folk Painting, Joseon's Pop Art" exhibition

This exhibition is part of the "Touring K-Arts" program, supported by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which promotes outstanding Korean cultural and artistic programs overseas through Korean cultural centers. It will be held in both Osaka and Tokyo.

The Joseon Folk Painting Museum, co-organizing the exhibition with two Korean cultural centers in Japan, is South Korea’s first specialized folk painting museum, established in 2000. The Korean Folk Art Museum, opened in 2015, is its sister institution and houses approximately 5,000 folk paintings from the Joseon period to the modern era.

Inside view of the "Folk Painting, Joseon's Pop Art" exhibition

Director Kim Hae-sun of the Korea Cultural Center in Osaka stated, "Folk painting is one of the most actively reinterpreted traditional cultures today. Rather than treating it as a closed heritage of the past, we hope this exhibition becomes an opportunity to rediscover its charm as a 'living artistic asset' that reflects the diversity of contemporary society."

The "Folk Painting, Joseon's Pop Art" exhibition will run at the Korea Cultural Center in Osaka until August 8.