Czech art exhibition reveals unknown Korean author

Three Dancers (1925) by Toyen

A novel “the Grass Roof

By Kim Se-jeong

During a tour of a Czech modern art exhibition last week, Czech Ambassador to Korea Jaroslav Olsa, Jr. revealed a piece of previously unknown history about Korean literature.

The event put the spotlight on author Kang Young-hill who was born in Korea in 1903. He went to Canada in 1920, after escaping the repressive Japanese colonial rule here. Eventually, he settled in the United States.

His first novel “The Grass Roof” (1931) instantly made him an international literary figure. His book was translated into different languages, including Czech.

“My father read it, and said it’s a good book about Asia,” said Olsa during the tour on Feb. 26 at the National Museum of Art at Deoksu Palace in Seoul.

The book was first translated into Czech during the 1930s, and was published by a leading publisher there, giving prominence to the author at that time. The Czech edition was reprinted until the early 1970s.

Kang was brought to the ambassador’s attention because of Marie Cerminova (1902-80), known as Toyen, a Czech artist. She designed the book cover for Kang’s novel published in the Czech Republic, and one of her paintings is on display at the museum along with 100 other works by prominent Czech artists.

The exhibition, “Memory of Landscape I have Never Seen,” opened about a month ago, and Amb. Jaroslav is offering a guided-tour to visitors.

The exhibition will continue until the end of April. For more information, visit www.moca.go.kr.