Yoo Young-kuk's "Work" (1964) / Courtesy of Seoul Museum of Art
Known for his bold and vivid yet composed depictions of nature — especially mountains as a portrait of the inner mind — Yoo Young-kuk (1916-2002) is a pioneer of abstract art in Korean art.
"Yoo Young-kuk: A Mountain Within Me," is a large-scale retrospective organized by the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), set to begin Tuesday. The exhibition brings together some 170 pieces of his works and historical archives, including photos and drawings, according to the museum.
Organized on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of his birth, the exhibit includes previously undisclosed pieces that allow visitors to explore the previously little-revealed parts of life and works of the art master.
Rather than displaying his works in chronological order, the exhibition first invites viewers to take in his works from 1964, considered a major turning point in his artistic journey.
It then reassembles his life through four other sections that encompass key stages in his life, ranging from his early days of studying art in Tokyo during the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule to his later days when he faithfully lived as an artist each day despite inserting a pacemaker and undergoing major surgeries.
A collection of photos, news articles and other forms of artifacts are also displayed in a separate section allowing viewers to get a glimpse of his life in a historic context.
In efforts to reenact his world of art in the present, the exhibition borrows the voices of pianist Son Yeol-eum and TV personality Peter Bint for Korean and English versions of audio guides, respectively.
The museum also plans to light up his works across the 222-meter-long facade of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul during the Seoul Art Week scheduled for September.
The exhibition runs through Oct. 25.
Source: Korea Times News
