On April 21, Chongkundang Holdings held the ‘Chongkundang Yesuljisang 2025 Artist of the Year Certificate Ceremony’ at its headquarters in Chungjeongno, Seoul, selecting Lim Heejae, Cho Kiseob, and GR1 as this year’s awardees.

The three selected artists were highly recognized for presenting new discourses in contemporary art through their unique perspectives and painterly languages.

The selection process involved two rounds of closed-door evaluations by a panel of art experts. Artists under the age of 45 working in painting were assessed on their originality and artistic potential, resulting in the final selection of three recipients. Each artist will receive an annual creative grant of 10 million KRW for three years, along with an opportunity to showcase their work in a curated exhibition during the final year of support.

Artist Lim Heejae explores the dilemmas of human desire for possession and the act of representation through the imagery of taxidermied animals, focusing on the perspective of viewing them through a pane of glass. Cho Kiseob creates a sense of spatial depth on the canvas by layering memories and emotions experienced in nature using the medium of silver powder. GR1 engages with cultural, political, and social conflicts through the visual language of graffiti, rooted in street culture.

Artist Cho Kiseob shared his thoughts, saying, “Being selected for Chongkundang Yesuljisang marks a new turning point in my practice. I will continue to embrace creative challenges and delve deeper into the artistic direction I have been building.”

Choi Heenam, CEO of Chongkundang Holdings, remarked, “The artists selected this year have each established a unique artistic world, and we expect them to play a pivotal role in the advancement of contemporary art. Chongkundang Yesuljisang will continue to actively support the expansion of Korean contemporary painting and the revitalization of the creative ecosystem.”
 
Chongkundang Yesuljisang is a cultural and artistic social contribution program launched in 2012 through the joint efforts of Chongkundang Holdings, the Korea Mecenat Association, and the Art Space Hue, following the proposal of Chairman Lee Jang-han. The program was designed to support emerging artists with strong potential, helping them freely develop their creative capabilities. To date, it has discovered and supported a total of 42 artists.

References

• 종근당홀딩스 보도자료 (Chongkundang Holdings Press Release)
• 종근당예술지상 (Chongkundang Yesuljisang)