Painter Hwang Young-seong, Known for Evoking Hometown Scenes, Dies at 84
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
Hwang Young-seong, emeritus professor of art at Chosun University, died on the 27th at age 84. Born in 1941 in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, he regarded Gwangju — where he took refuge during the Korean War — as his second hometown. A graduate of Chosun University's Department of Fine Arts, Hwang held his first solo exhibition in 1965 in Yeongsanpo, Naju. He taught at Chosun University from 1969, later serving as dean of the College of Fine Arts in 1997 and as vice president in 1999, retiring in 2006. From 2011 to 2014 he directed the Gwangju Museum of Art, then continued creating work in his Dong-gu (district) studio in Gwangju. Hwang was known for simplified depictions of hometown life — family, traditional thatched-roof houses (chogajip), and other elements of Korean sentiment — and held a retrospective titled “Family of the Universe” at the Jeonnam Provincial Museum of Art in 2023 marking 60 years of his practice. His honors include the National Exhibition (Gukjeon) Ministry of Culture and Public Information Minister's Prize, the Lee In-sung Art Award, the Kumho Art Award, and the Order of Service Merit (Hwangjo Geunjo Medal).
