Sayart.net - Seund Ja Rhee, Trailblazing Korean Abstract Artist Who Transcended Borders and Boundaries

Above is the 'Road to the other side of the world' series by Seund Ja Rhee, courtesy of Paik Hae Young, the owner of the work.

Born in the Japanese colonial era, Seund Ja Rhee (1918-2009) stands as one of the most significant figures in the Korean art scene. Often compared to Na Hye-sok, the first female western painter in Korea, Rhee left an indelible mark on the world of abstract painting, having produced over 14,000 pieces throughout her career spanning five decades. 

▲ Seund Ja Rhee, Courtesy of National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Korea.

From Humble Beginnings to the Heart of France

Rhee was born in Jinju City, Gyeongsangnam-do, in 1918. In 1935, she graduated from Jinju Ilshin Girls' High School (now Jinju Girls' High School) and later majored in costume at Jissen Women's University in Japan. After marrying and becoming a mother of three, Rhee's life took a dramatic turn. A painful divorce drove her to leave Korea penniless and relocate to France in 1951 at the age of 33, where she embarked on her artistic journey.
Studying at the National High School of Fine Arts in Paris, Rhee seized the opportunity to hone her craft alongside revered artists like Henri Laurence, Chagall, and Matisse at the Académie de la Grande-Chaumière. She gained French citizenship in 1953, which significantly facilitated her artistic endeavors. 

▲ Seund Ja Rhee, Beaux Arts Street covered in snow (1956) , Courtesy of National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Korea.

A Star Rises in the Parisian Art Scene

Rhee's artistic talent started gaining recognition in 1958 with her first solo exhibition at Galerie Lara Vinci in Paris. Her work explored various themes, from abstract landscapes of Amsterdam Harbor to semi-figurative landscapes of Bois-Lard Street in Paris.

Her work「The Mother I Know」, exhibited before the Ecole de Paris in 1962, and an exhibition of her woodcuts at Charpentier Gallery in 1964, brought Rhee critical acclaim. In 1965, she returned to Korea for the first time in 15 years and held her first solo exhibition at the Seoul National University Faculty Hall.

Rhee's artwork is known for its intricate blend of traditional Korean aesthetics and Western abstraction. She created a unique world of art that synthesized oriental yin-yang philosophy with Western abstract trends, producing an expansive collection of work across multiple genres, including paintings, prints, sculptures, and ceramics.

Evolving Artistry and Transnational Influence

During the 1960s, Rhee's work was characterized by exploration of the theme of motherhood and earth, utilizing simple shapes and bright colors. Her representative work「The Mother I Know」was inspired by the furrows of her childhood hometown. 

▲ Seund Ja Rhee, The Mother I Know (Oil on canvas, 1962) courtesy of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.

In the late 1960s, Rhee's work evolved, reflecting the inspiration she received from a tour of the United States, particularly New York. The 1970s saw her translate the image of a city viewed from the sky into an abstract format.

While working between France and Korea since the mid-1960s, Rhee found inspiration in the polar regions seen from her airplane. This developed into the 'Road to the Polar' series in the 1980s. Her paintings during this period are filled with icons of blue semicircles, lines, and dots dancing between sky and mountain ranges.

By the mid-1990s, her artworks shifted focus to the motif of the universe. Rhee designed a ‘Milky Way’ studio in Trourretters sur Loup, capturing the vast, majestic universe of stars on her canvas.

A Legacy Celebrated

Rhee's contributions to the art world were widely recognized. Her works are in the collections of premier art museums globally, including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Korea, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in France, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Some of her most renowned pieces include 'Untitled (1956)', 'Transcendence' (1960), and 'Ilmu' (1964).
In 2015, the Seund Ja Rhee Art Museum opened in her birthplace, Jinju City. It is home to 376 pieces of her diverse body of work, including oil paintings, watercolors, prints, and ceramics, all donated by Rhee. In 2018, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art commemorated Rhee's 100th birth anniversary with a special exhibition. The retrospective illustrated her evolution as an artist, showcasing works from her initial foray into painting in her 30s, to her last piece completed at age 89.

Rhee's influence extended beyond her individual creations. As a cultural intermediary, she introduced traditional Korean art to France and vice versa, helping to cultivate a more profound understanding and appreciation for different artistic traditions. Her efforts were acknowledged by the French government, which awarded her the Legion of Honor in 1993.

She is remembered not only as Korea's first female abstract artist but also as a pioneer who transcended national and artistic boundaries. Her fusion of traditional Korean aesthetics with Western abstraction offered a unique perspective, creating an artistic narrative that engaged audiences both at home and abroad. 

▲ Seund Ja Rhee, The Road to the Other Side of the Earth, January 4, (1990) Courtesy of National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea.

Rhee's legacy continues to inspire future generations of artists, standing as a testament to the unyielding spirit of creativity, resilience, and the transcendent power of art. She passed away in 2009 at the age of 92 in Tourettes, South of France, leaving behind a profound artistic legacy that continues to inspire and influence. Her life and work are a reminder of the remarkable contributions female artists have made, despite the challenges they have faced.

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Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com