Koryo-saram Artist Moon Viktor Opens Museum in Gwangju as a Cultural Home
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Moon Viktor, a 74-year-old third-generation Koryo-saram (ethnic Koreans from the former Soviet Union) painter born in Kazakhstan, has settled in Gwangju and will open the 'Moon Viktor Museum' next month in the local Koryoin (Koryo-saram) village. Known for a pointillist style developed during a long recovery from heart surgery, Moon's work centers on forced deportation and identity—most famously his installation "Migration Train Flying to the Sky," which symbolizes the 1937 mass exile of Koreans to Central Asia. He plans permanent displays and portraits of major figures related to the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and Gwangju-born independence activists, and has painted tributes to heroes like General Hong Beom-do. Moon says bringing his art to Korea preserves Koryo-saram history and raises the status of their image; he also urges younger Koryo-saram to learn Korean and their history. The museum will combine a gallery and working studio to let visitors experience Koryo-saram history through art.
