Choi Il-kwon, an artist, was born in Seoul in 1953 and was born with hearing and language impairments. At the age of 8 (first year at Seoul Deaf School), he began to win awards at the World Art Exhibition. At the age of 13, he won the Grand Prize at the National Children's Art Exhibition, which led him to develop a talent and passion for painting.

In 2000, he received the Presidential Award for his contributions to the promotion of disability welfare and also received the 2nd Korea Disability Cultural Arts Award. For Choi Il-kwon, painting is a means of self-expression, a goal of life, and the only way to communicate with the world.

He was also nicknamed the second Unbo for his influence from Kim Ki-chang, a giant in the art world, and is currently residing in Icheon City, where he is working as a model representative artist in Korean painting.

Choi Il-kwon, who was born with hearing and language impairments, began to win awards at the World Art Exhibition at the age of 8 (first year at Seoul Deaf School). At the age of 13, he was a member of the Dongsan Art Research Institute in Seoul, and won the Grand Prize at the National Children's Art Practical Competition hosted by the Korean Federation of Arts and Cultural Organizations, which led him to develop a talent and passion for painting.

One day, an acquaintance of Choi's mother saw Choi's painting and said that the child was very talented and should be introduced to art. She took Choi's painting to Kim Ki-chang, a giant of Korean painting, and explained the situation. Kim Ki-chang introduced Choi to Shim Won Choong-hyun (former dean of Ewha Womans University) as his teacher, and Choi began his journey in Korean painting.

He enjoys painting flowers and birds and figures in Korean painting, and he sublimates them harmoniously in soft ink-and-wash, showing the effectiveness of Korean painting techniques. Instead of large subjects such as mountains, his subjects are animals living in the mountains, such as eagles, owls, squirrels, butterflies, bees, sparrows, pigeons, chickens, and various flowers. He has received praise for his unique composition using a variety of techniques such as traditional and modern beauty, meticulous ink-and-wash paintings, and flat paintings.

The artist says that he has been able to build his artistic world fiercely because of his wife, Hong Young-ran, who has devotedly supported him to communicate with the world, and he never forgets to express his gratitude.

Kim Ki-chang said: “Choi Il-kwon's art world reflects his delicate heart that embraces the world." and referred to him as his favorite student.

Group exhibitions and invitational exhibitions

• 3 solo exhibitions, 10 invitational exhibitions, 1 booth exhibition

• Participation in the Korean Farmers' Association Founding Exhibition and Regular Exhibition (1-25th)

• Participation in the Huso Association Membership Exhibition (18-48th)

• Beautiful Seoul Exhibition Commemorating the 600th Anniversary of Seoul's Establishment (Seoul City Art Museum)

• Records Exhibition of Rising People (Anyang Arts Center) Invitation to the Chungcheong Disability Art Exhibition, Invitation to the North Korean Disability Relief Fund Exhibition.

• Seoul Disability Youth Theater Festival Outstanding Artist Work Exhibition

• Silence & Color Exhibition (Gyeong-in Art Museum)

• Together Drawing the Future "1+1=人" Exhibition

• Disability Cultural Arts Exhibition and Forum

• Huangjeong Disability Cultural Arts Institute Invitation Exhibition

• Donation of a large 300-number work "Chunhwa" (Icheon City Hall)

• Invitation to exhibit works to raise funds for the construction of Sindun Church

• World Disability Cultural Arts Festival Exhibition

• Korean-Chinese Disability Art Exchange Exhibition

• 2011 Korean-Chinese-Japanese Disability Art Exchange Exhibition.

• Judge for the Asia-Pacific Disability Art Representative Exhibition

Award History

• Disability Welfare Promotion (Presidential Award)

• Awarded the 2nd Korea Disability Cultural Arts Award

• Disability Welfare Promotion (Nowon District Mayor's Award)

• Disability Welfare Promotion (Icheon City Mayor's Award)

Born in Seoul in 1953

• JM Group Invitational Exhibition in Jeonju with the Beautiful Together "Love Message Conveyed by Art" Painting Exhibition with Stories Conveyed by the Whole Body, National Special Needs Children's Art Invitational Exhibition, Sponsorship Exhibition (4, 8, 10-1721)

• Special Disability Exhibition (Cheongwadae Chunchugwan)

• Participation in the Korean Art Association's Regular Exhibition, the National Disability Art Association's Founding Exhibition and Regular Exhibition, the Mokpo Port 100th Anniversary Commemoration Korean Farmers' Association Invitational Exhibition

• Recommended artist for the Korea Disability Art Exhibition

• Special Planning Exhibition "Silent Echo" for the Day of the Deaf (Cheongju Unbo Art Museum)

• SK Building Permanent Art Exhibition

• World Disability Korea Convention Venue Exhibition

• Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition, Lotte Outlet Cafe Barery Permanent Art Exhibition

• International Disability Art Exchange Exhibition (Louvre Museum Exhibition)

• Special Disability Art Exhibition (Cheongwadae Chunchugwan)

Currently

• Advisor to the Korean Deaf Art Association

• Member of the Korean Art Association

• Member of the Huso Association

• Advisor to the Korean Disability Art Association

• Social Member

Meanwhile, this exhibition is expected to have various effects in contributing to raising awareness of people with disabilities. First, it can spread the awareness that people with disabilities also have artistic talents. Choi Il-kwon was recognized for his outstanding painting skills despite his hearing and language impairments, and won the Korea Disability Cultural Arts Award. This exhibition is expected to show that people with disabilities can be fully recognized as artists, contributing to the elimination of social prejudices against people with disabilities.

Second, it can promote communication and understanding between people with disabilities and those without. This exhibition provides an opportunity for people with disabilities and those without to appreciate and communicate with each other's works. This is expected to be an opportunity for people with disabilities and those without to understand and empathize with each other.

Third, it can create an atmosphere of support for the activities of disabled artists. This exhibition will introduce the works of disabled artists to the public and will be an opportunity to support their activities. This is expected to create an environment where disabled artists can become more active.

Choi Il-kwon's 50th anniversary celebration is a meaningful event that contributes to raising awareness of disabilities. It is hoped that through this exhibition, people with disabilities and those without will communicate with each other and an atmosphere of supporting the activities of disabled artists will be created.

Specific effects

Spread awareness that people with disabilities also have artistic talents

Promote communication and understanding between people with disabilities and those without

Create an atmosphere of supporting the activities of disabled artists