Commemoration foundation appraises authenticity
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Sculptor Kwon Jin-kyu (1922-1973) is the pioneer of modern sculpture in Korea and known for his elegant works. An exhibition in Seoul sheds light on the late artist who explored the materiality of plaster, rock and bronze and demonstrated the zenith of sculptural elegance.
Titled "Kwon Jin Kyu: the Essence," the exhibit is co-organized by the Kwon Jin Kyu Commemoration Foundation and the PKM Gallery in downtown Seoul and features 23 pieces by the late sculptor including plaster, terra cotta and bronze sculptures as well as paintings and sketches. There are only four bronze sculptures created by Kwon and one of them is on display at the gallery.
The works on display at the exhibit are mostly from his days in Japan when he majored in sculpture at the Musashino Art University in Tokyo and studied under Professor Takashi Shimizu, but also includes some later terra cotta busts which represent the spirit of the artist.
Park Kyung-mee, president of PKM Gallery, said, Kwon aspired toward the establishment of Korean realism as his terra cotta sculpture fully bloomed when he returned to Korea in the late '50s.
"He already achieved the aesthetic perfection when he studied and worked in Japan, but he tried to reach that stage of Korean beauty through terra cotta upon his return to his home country," Park said. "This exhibit aims to present the consistent aesthetic value established in the early period and continued through Kwon's works."
Kwon's oeuvre is mainly known for his realistic self portrait sculptures and female sculptural figures modeled after his acquaintances.
The artist held three solo exhibitions at the Press Center Gallery, Tokyo Nihonbashi and Myeongdong Gallery, respectively, which was rare for a sculptor back then. He also taught at Seoul National University and Hongik University.
Despite his seemingly thriving artistic career, Kwon had an insatiable desire for art and aesthetics which drove him to kill himself in his studio in 1973.
Controversy over posthumous reproduction
Kwon was not a prolific artist and he left about 430 pieces of sculpture ― 325 original pieces and 105 cast posthumously ― and 550 paintings and sketches.
The Kwon Jin Kyu Commemoration Foundation plans to publish a "catalogue raisonne" of the artist in 2019, following a major retrospective at his alma mater Musashino Art University in 2009. The foundation is also in charge of appraising the authenticity of Kwon's works.
Huh Kyung-hoe, Hongik University economics professor and nephew of Kwon who works for the foundation, said this measure is to protect the artist's value by preventing trades of works not created by Kwon.
"We do not acknowledge certificate of authenticity from other organizations," Huh said. "Last year, a sculpture claimed to be Kwon's was up for auction, but it was a forgery. So we notified the auction company and it was removed before being auctioned."
Park Hyoung-gook, art professor at Japan's Musashino Art University who specializes in sculpture, said Kwon would have disapproved of posthumous reproduction of his works.
"Some artists such as Rodin encouraged their works to be cast and given wider publicity. However, Kwon was critical of duplication of sculptural works and he destroyed plaster molds of his sculptures. So we follow his intention regarding posthumous casting," Park said.
Park examined many of remaining sculptures of Kwon for the 2009 exhibition and said there are many unauthorized reproductions distributed.
"Some of Kwon's works in collection at Korea's major museums are reproductions, not original," Park said, mentioning the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.
However, MMCA clarified that the reproduction in the national museum's collection were approved by the artist's family and the museum knew it was cast posthumously when it came to the collection.
The exhibit runs through Oct. 14. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.pkmgallery.com or call 02-734-9467.
By Kwon Mee-yoo
 |
| "Bust of Girl" (1964) by Kwon Jin-kyu / Courtesy of Kwon Jin Kyu Commemoration Foundation and PKM Gallery |
Titled "Kwon Jin Kyu: the Essence," the exhibit is co-organized by the Kwon Jin Kyu Commemoration Foundation and the PKM Gallery in downtown Seoul and features 23 pieces by the late sculptor including plaster, terra cotta and bronze sculptures as well as paintings and sketches. There are only four bronze sculptures created by Kwon and one of them is on display at the gallery.
The works on display at the exhibit are mostly from his days in Japan when he majored in sculpture at the Musashino Art University in Tokyo and studied under Professor Takashi Shimizu, but also includes some later terra cotta busts which represent the spirit of the artist.
Park Kyung-mee, president of PKM Gallery, said, Kwon aspired toward the establishment of Korean realism as his terra cotta sculpture fully bloomed when he returned to Korea in the late '50s.
"He already achieved the aesthetic perfection when he studied and worked in Japan, but he tried to reach that stage of Korean beauty through terra cotta upon his return to his home country," Park said. "This exhibit aims to present the consistent aesthetic value established in the early period and continued through Kwon's works."
Kwon's oeuvre is mainly known for his realistic self portrait sculptures and female sculptural figures modeled after his acquaintances.
The artist held three solo exhibitions at the Press Center Gallery, Tokyo Nihonbashi and Myeongdong Gallery, respectively, which was rare for a sculptor back then. He also taught at Seoul National University and Hongik University.
Despite his seemingly thriving artistic career, Kwon had an insatiable desire for art and aesthetics which drove him to kill himself in his studio in 1973.
Controversy over posthumous reproduction
Kwon was not a prolific artist and he left about 430 pieces of sculpture ― 325 original pieces and 105 cast posthumously ― and 550 paintings and sketches.
The Kwon Jin Kyu Commemoration Foundation plans to publish a "catalogue raisonne" of the artist in 2019, following a major retrospective at his alma mater Musashino Art University in 2009. The foundation is also in charge of appraising the authenticity of Kwon's works.
Huh Kyung-hoe, Hongik University economics professor and nephew of Kwon who works for the foundation, said this measure is to protect the artist's value by preventing trades of works not created by Kwon.
"We do not acknowledge certificate of authenticity from other organizations," Huh said. "Last year, a sculpture claimed to be Kwon's was up for auction, but it was a forgery. So we notified the auction company and it was removed before being auctioned."
Park Hyoung-gook, art professor at Japan's Musashino Art University who specializes in sculpture, said Kwon would have disapproved of posthumous reproduction of his works.
"Some artists such as Rodin encouraged their works to be cast and given wider publicity. However, Kwon was critical of duplication of sculptural works and he destroyed plaster molds of his sculptures. So we follow his intention regarding posthumous casting," Park said.
Park examined many of remaining sculptures of Kwon for the 2009 exhibition and said there are many unauthorized reproductions distributed.
"Some of Kwon's works in collection at Korea's major museums are reproductions, not original," Park said, mentioning the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.
However, MMCA clarified that the reproduction in the national museum's collection were approved by the artist's family and the museum knew it was cast posthumously when it came to the collection.
The exhibit runs through Oct. 14. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.pkmgallery.com or call 02-734-9467.
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