- Overview
-
The story of Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO Heritage Site, told from the perspective of King Jeongjo of Korea's Joseon dynasty.
- Book Intro
-
(English) Hwaseong Fortress is a UNESCO Heritage site in the city of Suwon in South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province. It is not only a spectacular work of architecture, it is also an artistic masterpiece that provides insights into the history and culture of 18th-century Korea. The construction of the fortress took place in 1796 to commemorate King Jeongjo’s father, who had died tragically as a crown prince upon being embroiled in political conflict. The fortress was also a symbol of the king’s love for his people, as seen from the fact that laborers were paid from the royal treasury rather than conscripted into slavery. The design of the castle was altered several times during the process to avoid causing trouble for commoners.
Hwaseong Fortress is a picture book that tells the story of the fortress through the eyes of King Jeongjo. It is a look into the king’s respect for his father and his love for the people. Kim Kichul, a veteran painter of Korean cultural heritage, brings the beauty of the fortress to life in his illustrations.
Kim is known for his incredibly detailed painting of the first National Treasure of South Korea, the Namdaemun Gate, composed after its destruction by arson in 2008. Kim’s dedication to preserving images of the beloved gate can be seen in his detailed renditions of individual roof tiles and bricks: he worked with a tiny brush in one hand, magnifying glass in the other. He also painted Seoul’s four main palaces (including the Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Palaces), and spent the following eight years capturing cultural heritages like Hwaseong Fortress on canvas. Of the seventy-odd works he produced during this time, eighteen of his best depictions of the fortress have been included in this publication. The lifelike illustrations of the magnificent structure and the empathetic look into King Jeongjo’s thoughts come together in this book to present Hwaseong Fortress in all its historic value and artistry.
(French) <Forteresse de Hwaseong>
Hwaseong, la patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO, est une forteresse située à Suwon en Corée du Sud. Cette édifice est une œuvre d’art et elle permet de découvrir l’histoire et la culture coréenne. Elle est construite en 1796 sous le règne de Jeongjo, le 22e roi de la dynastie de Joseon, pour montrer la piété filiale du roi envers son père qui était victime d’une lutte politique. Mais cette forteresse montre également l’amour du roi envers son peuple. Le livre nous raconte des histoires liées à la forteresse de Hwaseong du regard de Jeongjo. Vous pouvez découvrir des aspects artistiques et des valeurs historiques de la forteresse en le lisant !
- About the Author
-
Woo Hyeonok
(English) A children’s author with a fondness for picture books, Wu studied children’s literature at Chung-Ang University before serving as an instructor at Kaywon School of Art and Design, Chung-Ang University, and Hanseo University. She made her literary debut for children’s literature through the Munhwa Il-bo Daily in 2007 for her work The Bicycle Goes to Sea. Her works include José Mujica the Happy President, and The Phantom of the Opera for Children.
(French) Woo Hyun-Ok a suivi la formation de master et de doctorat en matière de littérature enfantine à l’Univsersité Joongang. En 2007, elle a remporté le prix au concours des jeunes écrivains avec son conte Aller à la mer en vélo. Elle a écrit de nombreux livres y compris Le jour où les fleurs du plaqueminier tombent comme les étoiles, José Mujica, le président heureux, Le Fantôme de l’Opéra pour les enfants.
(Russian) “Писатель сказок, люблю книжки с картинками.” Получил докторскую степень по специальности “Детская литература” в университете Чунг-Анг, в 2007 г. газета Мунхва Ильбо признала работу “Велосипед, который едет на море” лучшей. Преподавал курс по написанию книжек с картинками в Университете искусств Кевон, Университете Хансо и Университете Чунг-Анг. Среди произведений автора: “День, когда цветы хурмы падают, как звезды”, “Истина сильна”, “Самая вкусная еда в мире”, “Ребенок, который разбивает звезды, Юн Дон Чжу” и “Счастливый Президент Хосе Мухика”.
(Vietnamese) Nhà văn Woo Hyeon Ok là tác giả truyện tranh rất yêu thích truyện tranh. Tác giả học cao học chuyên ngành văn học thiếu nhi đại học Chung Ang, có kinh nghiệm dạy tại trường đại học Kyewon, đại học Chung Ang, đại học Han Seo. Tác phẩm “Chiếc xe đạp đi trên biển” được bình chọn là tác phẩm văn học mới của Nhật báo Hàn Quốc năm 2007. Một số tác phẩm khác như “Hoa thành Suwon”, “Tổng thống Hose Mohika hạnh phúc”, “Bóng ma nhà hát trẻ em”.
Kim Kichul
(English) Kim Kichul (M) studied Western Painting at Hongik University and the Graduate School of Fine Art of the same university. He has drawn many paintings in Western styles. He has held 15 private exhibitions and participated in numerous group exhibitions. He is a member of the Korean Fine Arts Association and the Seoul Fine Arts Association.
His focus has been on vividly transferring Korea’s old architecture onto the canvas since Sungnyemun Gate caught fire in 2008. This is his first picture book. The pictures were drawn with acrylic paint on canvas.
(French) Kim Gi-Cheol s’est spécialisé en peinture occidentale et il a fait un troisième cycle universitaire en matière de peinture à l’Université Hongik. Il a ouvert ses expositions individuelles quinze fois et participé à un grand nombre d’expositions collectives. Il a fait des activités en tant que membre de l’Association coréenne des arts et l’Association Séoul des arts. Après l’incendie de la porte Sungnyemun, il s’est dévoué pour dessiner l’architecture traditionnelle coréenne.
C’est sa première livre illustré dans lequel les œuvres sont peintes avec la peinture acrylique.
- Recommendation
-
"Hwaseong Fortress is beautiful because the mind of a king embracing his people and the commendable act of a son thinking about his father are reflected in it, intact." - Kim Seung-guk (President of Suwon Cultural Foundation) 2016. "The artist’s special interest and affection for Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, can be felt in this book." - Yeom Tae-yeong (Mayor of Suwon City), 2016.
