PRINTCatalogue Note:
“PAINTING IS A WAY FOR ONESELF TO CULTIVATE THE MIND AND BODY VIRTUOUSLY.”
– PARK SEO-BO
Park Seo-bo is one of the early advocates of abstraction and has been embracing the new vocabularies of expression for the past 60 years, making him one of the most important artists in the history of modern Korean art. Park Seo-bo was a major exponent of the monochrome art movement (dansaek-hwa) among fellow artists including Ha Chong-hyun, Kim Ki-rin, Choi Myoung-young and Kwon Young Woo. In monochrome art, tradition and modernity were not treated as mutually exclusive, but were merged for the first time, the movement attempted to work with tradition in tandem with international trends during a time in history when Korea was striving for cultural solidarity. In particular, Park Seo-bo’s exploration of materials and the conceptual framework of abstraction in his Ecriture series demonstrated a wide and revolutionary departure from his previous work and have consistently resulted in influential works widely heralded both in Korea and abroad.
Ecriture No. 930607 is a work that exudes serenity and harmony, it is indisputably entwined with that of contemporary Korean abstract art while remaining quintessentially Korean. Its stylistic endeavor stresses the physical nature of materials and artworks, it seeks to establish itself between tradition and modernity, while simultaneously espousing an aesthetic that is in essence, Korean. The effect of the Ecriture series is reminiscent of Hanji, a type of traditional Korean paper, which further accentuates Park's ability to morph between styles. Its color palette too is situated between tradition and modernity, evoking porcelain from the Choson dynasty (1392-1910), which was an off-white color (hi kumuri), these references to elements of history and time become a part of his work. In particular, the artist’s thoughts have been mentally sublimated into his creation through a lengthy process, as the canvas depicts forms that completely disappear as illusion appears and vanishes, reminiscence of the work of Cy Twombly. Park’s works have been exhibited globally at many prestigious museums and galleries, including the Musée d'Art Modern in France. Ecriture No. 930607 is a testament to Avant-Garde Asian abstraction.
– PARK SEO-BO
Park Seo-bo is one of the early advocates of abstraction and has been embracing the new vocabularies of expression for the past 60 years, making him one of the most important artists in the history of modern Korean art. Park Seo-bo was a major exponent of the monochrome art movement (dansaek-hwa) among fellow artists including Ha Chong-hyun, Kim Ki-rin, Choi Myoung-young and Kwon Young Woo. In monochrome art, tradition and modernity were not treated as mutually exclusive, but were merged for the first time, the movement attempted to work with tradition in tandem with international trends during a time in history when Korea was striving for cultural solidarity. In particular, Park Seo-bo’s exploration of materials and the conceptual framework of abstraction in his Ecriture series demonstrated a wide and revolutionary departure from his previous work and have consistently resulted in influential works widely heralded both in Korea and abroad.
Ecriture No. 930607 is a work that exudes serenity and harmony, it is indisputably entwined with that of contemporary Korean abstract art while remaining quintessentially Korean. Its stylistic endeavor stresses the physical nature of materials and artworks, it seeks to establish itself between tradition and modernity, while simultaneously espousing an aesthetic that is in essence, Korean. The effect of the Ecriture series is reminiscent of Hanji, a type of traditional Korean paper, which further accentuates Park's ability to morph between styles. Its color palette too is situated between tradition and modernity, evoking porcelain from the Choson dynasty (1392-1910), which was an off-white color (hi kumuri), these references to elements of history and time become a part of his work. In particular, the artist’s thoughts have been mentally sublimated into his creation through a lengthy process, as the canvas depicts forms that completely disappear as illusion appears and vanishes, reminiscence of the work of Cy Twombly. Park’s works have been exhibited globally at many prestigious museums and galleries, including the Musée d'Art Modern in France. Ecriture No. 930607 is a testament to Avant-Garde Asian abstraction.