Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
Yoo Hee-young's abstract paintings reflect his struggle with colors
Yoo Hee-young poses for a photo in front of his painting on view at Gallery Hyundai in central Seoul. Courtesy of Gallery Hyundai
By Kwon Mee-yoo
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Artist Yoo Hee-young's color field abstract paintings look simple at first glance with single-colored canvases divided by straight lines. But the pure colors and geometry on the canvas reflect the artist's meditative mind.
The 78-year-old artist, mostly well-known as the director of Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) from 2007 to 2012, unveils his latest endeavor in color field abstract at his solo exhibition at the Gallery Hyundai in central Seoul.
This is Yoo's first solo exhibit in 15 years and features his abstract paintings that he completed after the 2000s.
"I did not stop painting while I was the SeMA director. I continued to paint on weekends and though I didn't hold any solo exhibitions for over a decade, I took part in many group exhibitions," Yoo said during a press preview of the exhibit.
Yoo won the ninth National Art Exhibition in 1960 at the age of 21. In his early days, Yoo was an artist of experimentation, which resulted in lyrical abstract art in the 1960s, hunting-themed paintings in the 70s and blue-colored color field abstract in the 80s. He later changed his main color to red in the late 80s.
"Back then, I tried to show off by painting thickly and scratching it off. Now I subtracted all those external things. This is the simplest form I can achieve since I cannot just display a blank canvas."
The artist said the process requires patience as he paints layer upon layer. Since he only uses oil paint without a drop of acrylic paint, it takes about three to five days for a layer of paint.
"These paintings might look similar to another in pattern, but each color is unique. I mix my own colors and never use the same color again. In fact, I can't make a red with the same brightness and chroma as the one I used before," the artist said.
Yoo said this exhibit is a present progressive form of his artistic struggle.
"Simple shapes are not easy as complicated techniques are not difficult. A short poem can have literary value equivalent to an epic novel. Art is not something that can be defined by superficial techniques," Yoo said. "Abstract art is the artist's mind expressed in one's own way. Abstract art is difficult because the viewers want to know what was in the artist's mind.”
Yoo mainly works at his studio in Okcheon, North Chungcheong Province, which is secluded in a deep forest.
"His works are the result of daily contemplation in nature," Kim Sung-eun, senior director of Gallery Hyundai, said.
Suh Sung-rok, art critic and Andong University art professor, referred to Yoo's works as "spiritual light landed on screen."
"Yoo Hee-young's paintings guide us to a deep and ancient place, a world where nothing is fast or slow, and nothing is busy or boring. For an artist, to cleanse the mind means to dive into the mystery of silence. He examines the condition of his quietly flowing mind, while waiting patiently for the muddy water to settle and eventually turn clear," Suh said.
The exhibit runs through Nov. 4. For more information, visit www.galleryhyundai.com.