KSI Saint Petersburg Holds Korean Folk
Painting Experience Classes

> From September 18 to 20, the KSI Saint Petersburg, Russia held a Korean folk painting experience class

> 48 participants, including KSI students and citizens interested in Korean culture, joined the class led by a Korean folk painting artist

From September 18 to 20, the KSI Saint Petersburg, Russia held a free Korean folk painting experience class with the support of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Saint Petersburg. As part of the Sejong Cultural Academy program, the Korean folk painting experience class introduced the history, types, and techniques of Korean folk painting, allowing participants to learn and create their own artwork. A total of 48 participants, including students of KSI and citizens interested in Korean culture, enjoyed the opportunity to explore Korean folk painting during this three-day class. The classes were held at KSI on the first day and at two creative art studios for the following two days.
 
 

For this event, a professional Korean folk painting artist from Korea was specially invited to provide participants with a more engaging and professional experience of Korean folk painting. On the first day, renowned artist Kim Mi-seop, who has promoted Korean folk painting and received multiple awards for her work, along with assistant instructor Yun Sung-ah, taught the “Mo (摹)” technique. The “Mo” technique involves placing a transparent sheet over the original artwork, tracing the visible shapes, and then adding colors to complete the painting.
 
 

The participants carefully followed the instructions on how to squeeze paint using three different-sized brushes, how to create colors from the paint, and important points to consider during the coloring process. One participant, Victoria, shared her thoughts: “I realized that the drawing techniques I learned in Russia are very different from Eastern drawing techniques. At first, the differences felt strange, but thanks to the instructor’s lessons, I had no trouble adapting to the unfamiliar style.”
 
 

The second day of the class began with a lecture on the theory of folk art. The participants were highly engaged, curious about the meanings and symbols within the paintings, and the materials used to create traditional paints. As they began drawing their first artwork, the “Lucky Pouch,” some participants were anxious, worried they might ruin their drawings. However, Kim Mi-seop and Yun Sung-ah provided detailed step-by-step instructions, actively assisting the participants. After completing their artwork, the participants gained confidence and received many compliments for their individuality, especially during the second folk painting session on “Red Peonies.” The instructors remarked, “While Koreans are familiar with using ink from a young age, it’s a new material for you, but you’re all doing very well,” offering words of encouragement.
 
 

In the final session, participants had a unique experience stamping lotus shapes on their paintings. At the end of the class, all participants received unique souvenirs, including traditional bags and fan-shaped mousepads, and left with a sense of joy. The three-day class on Korean folk painting provided a creative and meaningful experience for KSI students and citizens in Saint Petersburg.

Article by Aleksandra Kolesnikova, correspondent at KSI Saint Petersburg