"When the coffin lid is nailed shut, everything is over. That time is slowly approaching us. To avoid leaving behind regrets in that moment, I will do my best for my art today and tomorrow." <The Great Worker Who Knows No Boredom - The Life and Art of Park Seo-bo> p. 346.
"If you do not change, you will fall. But if you change, you will also fall," said Park Seo-bo (1931–2023), emphasizing that both unchanging artists and those who hastily chase ideas will face decline. He proved through his life that to make change one's own, a rigorous process of 'self-discipline' is necessary.
As the third anniversary of Park's passing approaches, the International Gallery is showcasing a retrospective titled 'Changing and Unchanging,' highlighting 50 years of his intense evolution. The exhibition features 40 works, ranging from his 1967 'Pencil Drawing Method' to 'Zigzag Method,' 'Black and White Method,' 'Color Method,' 'Pencil Color Method,' and finally, 'Newspaper Method.'
The journey of change began in 1967. Trapped by the scars of war, he described his work in a 1967 article for the Daehan Ilbo as "a continuation of the act of destroying what one has achieved." He emerged from the traps of the past and began his 'method' series. Just as a scholar grinds ink to calm the mind, he drew lines with a pencil repeatedly. This act of drawing was a form of self-emptying and self-discipline.
In the 1980s, he embraced hanji, traditional Korean paper. He captured the essence of nature on canvas without resisting the easily torn material, reflecting the Korean landscape's harmony with nature. This was also the reason he titled a group exhibition of Korean monochrome artists at the Tate Gallery in Liverpool in 1992 'Working with Nature.'
Entering the 2000s, color emerged in his work. After being overwhelmed by the fiery autumn leaves of Mount Bandai in Japan in 2001, vibrant red made its debut. He incorporated the night view of the Han River from his home, the Seogang Bridge, and the horizon of Jeju Island into his unique style.
Park Seung-ho, chairman of the Park Seo-bo Foundation, remarked, "It has been three years since my father passed away, and the world is changing rapidly. I am deeply moved to have an exhibition reflecting on the unchanging aspects of Park Seo-bo."
The exhibition runs until October 18.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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