Courtesy of GIZI Foundation
Park Seo-bo, a renowned artist and a founding member of the influential "dansaekhwa" movement, known for monochrome painting, passed away at the age of 92 on Saturday due to lung cancer. He chose not to pursue treatment and continued to paint, expressing a desire to create more art.
Born in 1931 in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, during the Japanese colonial rule, Park attended the College of Fine Arts at Hongik University in 1950 amidst the Korean War. He was a key figure in Korea's Art Informel movement, marked by a boycott of the National Art Exhibition due to its academicism and conservatism.
Park gained international acclaim for his signature "Ecriture" series, beginning in the early 1970s with "pencil-Ecriture," inspired by his son's rudimentary penmanship. He continued to evolve the series, incorporating traditional Korean paper and various compositions, embracing natural and man-made influences.
Throughout his career, Park contributed significantly to Korea's contemporary art scene as a painter, critic, and educator. He taught at Hongik University and served as the dean of the College of Fine Arts. His works were exhibited globally, and he received numerous accolades, including the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit in 2021.
In a notable collaboration, Park was the first Korean artist to participate in Louis Vuitton's ArtyCapucines project, featuring his "color-Ecriture" series on the iconic Capucines handbags. His legacy continues through the construction of the Park Seo-bo Art Museum on Jeju Island, set to open next summer.
Park is survived by his wife, Yoon Myoung-sook, two sons, and a daughter. A memorial service is being held at Seoul National University Hospital’s funeral hall in central Seoul.
Sayart.net
Sayart, sayart2022@gmail.com
