The Leeum Museum of Art in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, central Seoul, has unveiled a groundbreaking exhibition featuring Korea's oldest surviving tiger and magpie painting, dating back to 1592. The special exhibition, titled "Tigers and Magpies," marks the first time this historic artwork has been displayed in Korea, coinciding with renewed interest in Korean traditional culture following the success of Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters."
The exhibition brings together seven remarkable works in one comprehensive display, showcasing the evolution of the beloved "Hojakdo" (tiger and magpie painting) genre across different historical periods. Featured pieces include 19th-century minhwa (folk paintings) renowned for their humor and satirical elements, an orthodox painting by the legendary artist Kim Hong-do (1745-1806), and the iconic Hojakdo that served as inspiration for Hodori, the mascot of the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Tigers and magpies have long held special significance in Korean culture, serving as favorite animals and key artistic motifs throughout history. The tiger, despite being a fearsome predator, traditionally symbolized a virtuous gentleman and functioned as an apotropaic spirit offering protection against evil forces. Korean painters often depicted tiger pelts as decorative screens specifically to ward off misfortune and bring good luck to households.
The centerpiece of the exhibition, "Tigers and Magpies" (1592), represents the oldest surviving Korean example of this artistic genre and serves as the foundation for later folk art interpretations. While scholars believe the magpie-and-tiger iconography originally emerged during China's Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), this particular work demonstrates distinctly Korean artistic sensibilities by positioning the magpie in a tree above the tiger family. The painting depicts a mother tiger with her cubs standing before a pine tree on the left side, while a magpie perches on a branch overhead.
An inscription in the upper-right corner of the 1592 painting reads "painted in the imjin year," definitively dating the work to that specific year. What makes this piece particularly significant is its execution as an orthodox painting rather than a folk art piece, elevating its artistic and historical importance. The composition masterfully unites several traditional Korean motifs: "chulsanho" (a tiger descending from the mountain), "gyeongjo" (a bird startled and gladdened by birth), and "yuho" (a mother nursing her cub).
"This work captures the classic magpie-and-tiger image while containing all the elements fundamental to the Hojakdo format, which makes it very special," explained Cho Ji-yoon, a curator at the museum. The concept of "chulsanho" refers to a tiger coming down from the mountains to confront foxes and wolves that masquerade as tigers, a theme that resonates even in contemporary Korean culture, as seen in the Korean traditional music band Leenalchi's 2020 song "Tiger Is Coming."
By the 19th century, Hojakdo had flourished as minhwa, benefiting from the folk art genre's characteristic simplicity, creative freedom, and humor. The interpretations of these paintings became increasingly diverse and complex, ranging from folk beliefs that mountain spirits used magpies to deliver messages to tigers, to sharp social satire portraying tigers as corrupt officials and magpies as common people fighting against injustice.
One of the exhibition's most celebrated pieces is the Hojakdo long considered a canonical folk work and the direct inspiration for Hodori, the 1988 Seoul Olympics mascot. This particular painting has earned the nickname "Picasso Tiger" due to its abstract aesthetic that recalls the famous Spanish artist's work. The tiger is depicted with pricked ears, attentively listening to a prophecy delivered by the magpie on behalf of the mountain spirit, with comically exaggerated facial expressions that perfectly exemplify the minhwa style.
"The tiger's face bears round leopard spots, but the body shows long tiger stripes, so the artist fused leopard and tiger," Cho noted. "It shows that people at the time perceived leopards and tigers as the same animal." This artistic choice reflects the historical understanding and cultural perceptions of big cats in traditional Korean society.
Another standout piece is "Tigers and Magpies," likely painted in 1874 by artist Shin Jae-hyun, which represents a rare case where both the artist's identity and creation date are definitively known. The painting features an inscription that roughly translates to "When the tiger growls, a flock of magpies gathers," emphasizing the tiger's stature and dignity while blending folk painting techniques with the sophisticated spirit of literati art.
The exhibition also showcases a unique 19th-century piece titled "Curtain of Tiger Pelts," which depicts a tiger-skin canopy with its center pulled back to reveal a scholar's study. This artwork reflects the belief that tiger skin possessed the power to repel evil spirits and protect scholarly pursuits. "Books fill the desk, and the open volume shows a poem by Dasan Jeong Yak-yong," Cho explained. "The work reflects the intellectual culture that the literati class enjoyed during that period."
Kim Hong-do's "Tiger under a Pine Tree" provides another artistic perspective with its realistic rendering that exudes the dignity characteristic of orthodox painting traditions. The tiger's pose, turning beneath the pine tree, echoes the "chulsanho" prototype that forms the foundation of folk magpie-and-tiger imagery, demonstrating the continuity between formal and folk artistic traditions.
While some observers might assume the museum organized this exhibition to capitalize on the popularity of "KPop Demon Hunters," museum officials clarify that the show was planned a full year before the Netflix film's release. "I hope this exhibition lets visitors identify the roots of Korean characters that delight the world today, and truly understand our traditional culture," Cho emphasized.
To complement the exhibition experience, the Leeum Museum gift shop offers a carefully curated selection of exhibition-related crafts and merchandise that reinterpret traditional Korean aesthetics through contemporary design. These items include decorative money envelopes, artistic postcards, traditional paper fans, eco-friendly bags, cozy blankets, and even disposable cameras featuring tiger and magpie motifs.
The "Tigers and Magpies" exhibition runs through November 30 and is free of charge to all visitors. Reservations can be made through the museum's official website to ensure entry during peak visiting times. This exhibition represents a unique opportunity to witness the evolution of one of Korea's most beloved artistic traditions while gaining deeper insight into the cultural symbols that continue to influence Korean identity and artistic expression in the modern era.
