Good Tiger 'Hoho' — Nam Jeong-ye’s Folk Painting Exhibition at Jang Eun-sun Gallery
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Jang Eun-sun Gallery in Unni-dong, Seoul will host Nam Jeong-ye’s invitational exhibition “Hoho (好虎)” from January 7–23, 2026, presenting about 30 minhwa (traditional Korean folk paintings). The title “Hoho” plays on “good tiger” and an onomatopoeic laugh, signaling auspiciousness and optimism. Nam’s tigers move beyond their traditional role as guardians warding off evil to become warm, communicative figures that bring fortune and joy. Painted in soft, pastel-like colors, these tigers are portrayed as emotional mediators rather than threatening beasts, reflecting minhwa’s long tradition of “emotional communication” updated for contemporary optimism. The artist, who studied at Sungshin Women’s University and Hongik University and completed doctoral work in cultural heritage, has held 33 solo shows and teaches at institutions including the Korean Minhwa Center and the National Folk Museum.
