Korean, French Artists `Rendezvous’
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Contemporary French and Korean art come together in the ``Rendez-vous with Paris'' exhibition at Gallery Emporia, southern Seoul
Gallery Emporia worked with the renowned Univers des Arts magazine in Paris to bring the works of 12 French artists to Seoul.
``In this exhibition, 12 amazing artists who represent the world of contemporary fine art, and three of our own artists who have artistic connections with them in Paris, meet in a reunion… I believe that through this exhibition, two nations will be able to come together in artistic progress and friendship,'' said Chung Youn-seok, chairman of Emporia Art Group, in the exhibition catalog.
Among the noted artists are Paul Collomb, winner of the prestigious Grand Prix de Rome in 1950, and Gerald Garand, who was a nominee for the same prize in 1954. The Grand Prix de Rome is a scholarship given by the French government to young artists to study in Rome.
Collomb's paintings are characterized by bright, cheerful colors and flowery themes, while Garand's landscapes and sceneries have a slightly darker tone.
Bernard Charoy, who is from the Lorraine region in eastern France created charming portraits of beautiful women. His works have already been displayed at the Opera Gallery in New York and Singapore.
Other artists at the exhibit are Serge Tillou, Paul Aizpiri, Michael King, Michel-Henry, Michel Jouenne, Jean-Marie Zacchi, Andre Brasillier, Alain Bonnefoit and Pierre Henry.
There are different themes at the exhibit, ranging from Bonnefoit's nudes to Michel-Henry's flower still-lifes and King's sailboats.
Leading artists of Korean figurative art, Koo Cha-soong, Jun Myung-ja and Chang Chi-won have also been selected to show their works at the exhibit. All three artists have worked together with many of the French artists.
Koo, who graduated from Hongik University and Ontario College of Art in Canada, painted interesting portraits and still-lifes featuring fruits and bottles on tables.
Jun gracefully imbued her paintings featuring scenery in France with a distinct Korean sensibility. Chang's works show delicate flowers in soft and pale hues
The paintings of Bulgarian artist Moreno Pincas and Yugoslavian artist Dragutin Dedic also add a different flavor to the exhibit of Korean and French art.
The ``Rendez-vous with Paris'' exhibit runs through March 29. Gallery Emporia is located at Emporia Art Tower, Nonhyeon-dong, southern Seoul. Visit www.emporia.com or call (02) 3443-5555.