Han Byungho

Han Byungho
Born	(1962-10-07) October 7, 1962 (age 59) Seoul, South Korea
Occupation	Illustrator
Language	Korean
Nationality	South Korea
Genre	Children’s Picture Books
Notable works	Dokkaebi and the Pumpkin Porridge Seller, When You Go to Misan Valley, I Wish I Were a Bird

Han Byoungho (born October 7, 1962) is one of the pioneers of the second generation of picture book artists in Korea. He developed distinctive characters inspired by dokkaebi (mythological spirits) through his book Dokkaebi and the Pumpkin Porridge Seller published in 1992 illustrated in the style of traditional Korean painting. Afterward, Han created a number of picture books featuring varied dokkaebi characters, earning him the nickname “dokkaebi artist.” Moreover, based on deep curiosity and keen observations of nature, he published books about nature awareness such as When You Go to Misan Valley and The Day When Baby Otter Came, building his reputation as a picture book artist spotlighting the wonders of nature and ecology. Han also has a particular interest in antiques and creates diverse works and presents exhibitions on old items. He was nominated as the Korean candidate for the 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Award,^[1] frequently referred to as the Nobel Prize for children's literature.  

Life[edit]

Han Byoungho was born in Seoul in 1962. Upon receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Oriental Painting from the Chugye University for the Arts, he began his professional career as an illustrator when he found employment at the stationery company Barunson Co., Ltd. In 1988, he participated in the children's book workshop hosted by the Korean Book Art Association and received attention for his work depicting dokkaebi in a style highlighting the characteristics of traditional Korean painting. Since then, he has illustrated dokkaebi in a wide variety of ways, earning the title “dokkaebi artist.” While working as a picture book artist for more than thirty years, Han has produced some 180 books. With a profound interest in the natural ecosystem, he is taking an active role in introducing the beautiful natural environment of Korea through works such as When You Go to Misan Valley. In addition, he has been collecting antiques for the past thirty years and is experimenting with images of antiques, incorporating them in his picture books. In 2006, he established the illustration institute Kkoktu with his colleagues and since then has been dedicating efforts to fostering illustrators and picture book artists.

Career[edit]

Han Byoung Ho made his debut as a picture book artist in 1992 with Dokkaebi and the Pumpkin Porridge Seller, depicting Korean mythological spirits, dokkaebi, in the style of traditional Korean painting. In 1997, he received the Art Prize of the Sixth Children's Culture Award for his picture book Dokkaebi’s Magic Club, which was later translated into English, French, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese. In 2002, he was awarded the Grand Prize at the Biennale of Asian Illustrations Japan for Cock-a-doodle-doo Is Scary!, and in 2004, he was awarded the Grand Prize for Korean Creative Illustration for When You Go to Misan Valley. In 2005, Han became the first Korean to receive a Golden Apple at the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB) for I Wish I Were a Bird,^[2] which was published in 2004. The book was selected for the IBBY Honour List in 2006.^[3] Han was nominated as the Korean candidate for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2014.^[4] Beginning with the international exhibition of illustration in 1992, Han has presented his illustrations in exhibitions in countries including Japan, France, and Italy, engaging with readers across the world.

Style[edit]

Over the thirty years of his career as a professional illustrator, Han Byoungho has constantly experimented with diverse techniques and styles. The vast number of books that he published has been a result of endless research illustration styles that best harmonize with the text and narrative. The dokkaebi characters illustrated with a distinctive style inspired by traditional Korean painting that he first presented in 1992 garnered a lot of attention. His main artistic technique involves coloring on jangji, a type of traditional Korean paper. He particularly enjoys using ink. Depending on the picture book that he is working on, Han uses different mediums and techniques including ink wash, watercolor, pen drawing, acrylic, etching, lithography, and collage. In addition, he has been creating his picture book characters into sculptural installations.

Awards[edit]

• 2014     Nominated as the Korean Candidate for the Hans Christian Andersen Award
• 2012     Special Award, Hankook Children's Outstanding Children's Book Award – The Day When Baby Otter Came
• 2006     IBBY Honour List for Illustration – I Wish I Were a Bird
• 2006     The 46th Korean Publishing Culture Awards for Illustration – Dokkaebi and the Pumpkin Porridge Seller
• 2005     Golden Apple Award, Biennial of Illustration Bratislava (BIB) – I Wish I Were a Bird
• 2004     Grand Prize, Korea Creative Illustration – When You Go to Misan Valley
• 2002    Grand Prize, Biennale of Asian Illustrations Japan – Cock-a-doodle-doo Is Scary!
• 2002     Outstanding Picture Book Award, The 1st SBS Media Award – What Are the Same?
• 1997     Art Prize, The 6th Children's Culture Award – Dokkaebi’s Magic Club

Exhibition[edit]

• 2017     Picture Zoo, Nami Island International Children's Book Festival
• 2016     Picture Books: Play, Look, Share, Special Exhibition for the Establishment of Wonju as a Creative City
• 2014     Dokkaebi Artist, Han Byoungho, Suncheon Picture Book Library
• 2010     CJ Picture Book Festival Exhibition
• 2009     Guest of Honor Exhibition, Bologna Children's Book Fair
• 2005     Korea Picture Books 100, Guest of Honor Exhibition, Frankfurt Book Fair
• 2005     Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava, Slovakia
• 2005     Le Immagini della Fantasia 23, Italy
• 2004     2nd Solo Exhibition, Different Dreams, Gana Art Space, Korea
• 2003     Exhibition Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Hans Christian Andersen, Seoul Arts Center, Korea
• 2002     Biennale of Asian Illustrations Japan Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan
• 2000     Exhibition of Korean Picture Book Illustrations, Tokyo, Osaka, Japan
• 1998     1st Solo Exhibition, Dokkaebi, Design Center, Dongduk Women's University
• 1996     Exhibition of Korean Children's Picture Books, France
• 1993     Seoul International Picture Book Illustration Exhibition, Seoul Arts Center, Korea
• 1992     Tehran International Picture Book Illustration Exhibition, Iran

Works as Writer and Illustrator[edit]

• 2004     I Wish I Were a Bird ISBN 9788952754615
• 2001     When You Go to Misan Valley ISBN 9788943304379
• 2001     Cock-a-doodle-doo Is Scary! ISBN 9788989843009

Collaborations with Other Authors[edit]

• 2020     Mother’s Island with Lee Jin (Borim Press) ISBN 9788943313241
• 2019    Dokkaebi Who Went to the Forest with Kim Seong-beom (Poom Publishing) ISBN 9791196475321
• 2018     Along the Way with Kwon Jeong-saeng (Hanulim Kids)
• 2017     Moonlight Dog with Im Jeong-ja (Munhakdongne) ISBN 9788954646338
• 2016     Chi Chi Friends with Shin Dong-yeol (Purun Gamsung) ISBN 9791195861309
• 2012     The Day When Baby Otter Came with Kim Yong-an (Sigongsa) ISBN 9788952764034
• 2008     Teacher Bu, Chief of the Goblins with Jang Soo-myung (Hollym) ISBN 9788970945415
• 2007     Empty House with Lee Sang-gyo (Misegi) ISBN 9788980711826
• 2005     Dokkaebi and the Pumpkin Porridge Seller with Lee Sang-gyo (Kookmin Books) ISBN 9788911023813
• 2004     There Is No Doubt about It! with Hans Christian Andersen (Gesunamu Publishing House) ISBN 9788989654193
• 2004     Glow-in-the-dark Monster with Lee Chun-hee (Language World) ISBN 9788955859393
• 2003     Let’s Go to the Mountain with Lee Sang-gwon (Borim Press) ISBN 9788943305185
• 1999     The Ox and Dokkaebi with Yi Sang (Darim) ISBN 9788987721187
• 1998     Haechi and the Four Monster Brothers with Jeong Ha-seop (Gilbut Kids) ISBN 9788986621426
• 1998     Dokkaebi and Santa Claus with Lee Jun-yeon (Samseongdang Publishing) ISBN 9788980198566
• 1998    What Are the Same? with Lee Mi-ae (Borim Press) ISBN 9788943306151
• 1997     The Man in Search of Good Fortune with Jeong Hae-wang (Borim Press) ISBN 9788943307653
• 1996     Dokkaebi’s Magic Club with Jeong Cha-jun (Borim Press) ISBN 9788943303563
• 1992     Dokkaebi and the Pumpkin Porridge ^[5] Seller with Lee Gyeong-ae (Kookmin Books) ISBN 9788911003167

External links[edit]

• I Wish I Were a Bird_BIB Golden Apple Award
• Nominated as the Korean Candidate for the HCAA
• Nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Awards

References[edit]