I am covering trend, food and fashion. Previously, I covered diplomacy, city, environment and unification.
Swedish envoy and his wife host joint exhibion
By Kim Se-jeong
By Kim Se-jeong
Nearly five years had passed before the diplomatic artist couple could put together a joint exhibition.
They are Lars Vargo, Swedish ambassador to Korea who also moonlights as a poet and a painter, and his wife Eva, a textile artist.
The exhibition “Through Your Eyes” is their one and only joint exhibition in Korea as the Vargos will complete their stay this summer and are leaving Korea.
“I hope you’ll find works that you like,” Lars said welcoming the guests at the 123 Gallery in Seoul, Thursday.
Paintings by the ambassador who is more known as a poet diplomat in the foreign diplomatic community here came as a surprise, for he was hardly vocal about his artistic talent.
When asked to give a brief tour of his painting studio within his residence a few years ago, Lars humbly said he was only a beginner.
The creative ambassador also studied Japanese, and has expertise in Japanese poetry.
He writes poems and founded the Seoul Literary Society comprised of a group of literature-loving diplomats, offering his colleagues a chance to understand Korea through literature.
Among the invited Korean authors were Yi Mun-yol, Kim Ji-ha and the late Park Wan-seo.
An oil painting “Canal du Nivernais” was a clear disproof of his humble statement.
The picture depicting a view from a canal in a French town was remarkably expressive through the rippling waves.
Eva’s textile works were not as astonishing to discover as her husband’s art.
After already holding a few exhibits and working closely with textile artists, Eva’s talents were already well known.
Her elaborate woven pieces confirmed her long fascination with “hanji,” traditional Korean handmade paper.
The exhibition will run through May 27. For more information visit www.123gallery.co.kr.