Portray peonies and tigers: The place to be taught minhwa in Korea

“Dip your most interesting brush in shade. Preserve your brush vertical — this is essential. Decrease it gently onto the paper. Don’t apply stress. You’ll see tiny yellow dots seem,” a instructor instructed college students studying Korean conventional people portray, whereas demonstrating how you can add stamen and pistil to a peony portray throughout a category in Insa-dong, central Seoul, Jan. 6.

Referred to as minhwa, Korean people portray thrived throughout the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The works, usually created by nameless artists, depict animals, bushes, flowers and on a regular basis objects, and had been historically painted with the hope of averting dangerous luck and ushering in luck.

An Mi-gyung, a minhwa teacher, demonstrates how you can add stamen on a peony portray throughout her class in Seoul, Jan. 6. Korea Occasions photograph by Kim Se-jeong

The category is run by the Korea Minhwa Affiliation, a company devoted to selling minhwa in Korea and overseas.

“There are a lot of locations the place folks can be taught minhwa, however the courses provided by our affiliation are the longest-running and among the many most well known in Korea,” mentioned An Mi-gyung, the affiliation’s vp and sophistication teacher.

An mentioned curiosity in minhwa has been steadily rising.

“We obtain many cellphone inquiries about courses each in Korea and abroad. Faculties usually request one-day workshops, and once we set up exhibitions overseas, we’re steadily requested to supply brief courses there as nicely,” she mentioned.

An’s weekly class had 14 college students on the day of the go to, 5 of whom had been learners.

Their first task was practising straight strains utilizing a standard brush. “Fundamentals are crucial,” An informed the learners. “It could really feel boring, however it’s worthwhile to keep centered. When you grasp the fundamentals, you’ll have room to be inventive.”

A pupil paints a chook throughout a Korean people portray class in Seoul, Jan. 6. Korea Occasions photograph by Kim Se-jeong

Behind the learners sat college students who had been learning minhwa for about six months. They had been engaged on “hwahwedo,” that includes peony blossoms and branches. Close by, extra superior college students had been portray “hwajodo,” which depicts birds and flowers.

“College students regularly get alternatives to attempt various kinds of minhwa work,” An mentioned.

The affiliation at the moment presents 10 minhwa courses at its headquarters in Insa-dong, lengthy considered Seoul’s historic neighborhood for galleries and vintage sellers.

“Insa-dong was seemingly the birthplace of minhwa,” An mentioned, explaining the importance of the group’s location. “It was the place courtroom painters throughout the Joseon Dynasty labored. That they had most likely lived close by and folks would have requested them to copy what they painted at courtroom or to create different works. Different artists would then copy the work by courtroom painters.”

A newbie practices drawing strains throughout a minhwa class in Seoul, Jan. 6. Korea Occasions photograph by Kim Se-jeong

An added that renewed consideration to minhwa by the Netflix animated movie “KPop Demon Hunters,” has begun to reshape the cultural panorama of Insa-dong.

“Conventional artwork provide outlets within the space are making a comeback due to the rising reputation of minhwa,” she mentioned, noting that artwork studios are additionally benefiting. “Studios that after taught different genres are actually being changed by minhwa courses.”

Choi Jung-a, a pupil within the class and a restaurant proprietor in Insa-dong, mentioned she has seen rising curiosity from overseas guests as nicely.

“I’ve minhwa work displayed in my restaurant and plenty of overseas diners ask the place they will purchase one or learn to paint it themselves,” she mentioned.

The place to be taught minhwa

The Korea Minhwa Affiliation is one among a number of locations that provide minhwa portray courses. Based on An, along with personal studios, minhwa courses are extra extensively accessible at neighborhood facilities as of late. The Korea Occasions has compiled an inventory of personal studios and museums the place each foreigners and locals can attempt minhwa.

Alloc Seoul / Captured from Instagram

Alloc Seoul

Positioned in central Seoul, Alloc Seoul presents a chance to attempt minhwa portray whereas exploring one of many metropolis’s historic districts. Acrylic paints are supplied at Alloc Seoul quite than powdered pigments. A one-day class in English is offered. Extra info could be discovered on Instagram @allocseoul.

Minhwa Achieve

Minhwa Achieve is run by minhwa artist Noh Search engine optimisation-ah and presents one-day workshops in addition to longer programs at her studio close to Ewha Womans College in Seoul. Noh has received awards on the Minhwa Awards organized by the Korea Minhwa Affiliation and her minhwa-inspired designs had been featured on Korean conventional outfits worn by fashions on the Milan Style Week in 2025. English courses can be found. Extra details about courses is on Instagram @minhwa_gain.

Sunday Minhwa

Based mostly in southern Seoul, Sunday Minhwa operates throughout a number of platforms. Along with in-person courses, it runs a YouTube channel with greater than 11,000 subscribers. Its movies information viewers by means of primary methods and portray strategies of minhwa. For inquiries about offline courses, go to @sunday_minhwa on Instagram.

Gahoe Minhwa Museum / Captured from bbkk.kr

Gahoe Minhwa Museum

The Gahoe Minhwa Museum is a personal museum in central Seoul that gives conventional people portray courses. One-day minhwa workshops give members a chance to color tigers, peonies, lotus flowers, dragons and mandarin geese on paper, wooden panels or followers.

The museum additionally presents intensive programs for these in search of in-depth coaching on minhwa. Fluency in Korean is required for this course. The in-depth coaching is at the moment recruiting college students, with plans to launch courses in March. Extra info is offered at gahoemuseum.org.

Lucysson Atelier / Captured from Lucysson Atelier’s weblog

Lucysson Atelier

Lucysson Atelier, the one minhwa studio in Jeju, is common amongst vacationers. It presents one-day courses by which members can paint on wood frames, paper, hand followers or silk followers. A two-and-a-half-hour class is offered in English. Extra info is offered on Instagram @lucysson_gallery_jeju.

The Faculty of Minhwa

The Faculty of Minhwa is likely one of the largest on-line platforms for studying minhwa, providing programs starting from one-day courses to a master-level program from varied instructors. College students who full the grasp course are eligible to use for a minhwa artist certificates. All programs are carried out in Korean. Extra info is offered at tsom.kr.