Red Horse Energy Captured in Art — 'MAHA Art Contest' Awards
Creatrip Team
a month ago
At the 4th MAHA Art Contest awards held Jan. 27 at KG Tower in Seoul, 25-year-old artist Lee In-seo won the grand prize for her piece "Facing". The 2026 contest, themed for the Year of the Red Horse (병오년), received about 600 entries and selected 19 winners. Lee's work used natural materials to create a scarecrow-like animal form, reinterpreting the traditional human-serving scarecrow as one for animals to express themes of life, protection, and coexistence. The grand prize includes a trophy, a 3 million won cash award, and selection as a Kwak Jae-sun Foundation Artist 4 member with a solo exhibition opportunity. Other top winners include Wi Jeong-seon (Grand Prize runner-up) and Jin Sol; special goods based on winning works will be produced in collaboration with Hollys (a coffee chain) as passport cases and bag tags. The selected works will be displayed at Gallery Sun in Seoul through Feb. 27. The Kwak Jae-sun Foundation, founded in 2020, continues supporting young artists through competitions and programs to foster K-art on the global stage.
