Seojung Art is pleased to present Lee Choun Hwan's solo exhibition Rooted Island. This exhibition illuminates the endless explorations of the energy of nature, the land of Korea where Lee himself settled. The exhibition title Lee Choun Hwan: Rooted Island refers to an island deeply embedded in the artist's work. Here, 'island' refers to the artist's hometown, the 'island' of Wando, and simultaneously the Korean 'island,' where the artist has taken root, a geographically peninsula with blocked connections to the continent.
Lee Choun Hwan (b.1956), who was born in a small Korean island, Wando, grew up with beautiful landscape. Lee started painting spontaneously after learning calligraphy in ink from his grandfather. The artist's affection for his hometown led to the respect of the nature and Korea. This exhibition presents works by Lee, who had devoted himself to ink painting for more than 20 years, created with an application of the Western painting style for the first time.
The transition of using materials showed in the early 2000s was connected to the change of his expression method. Unlike ink paintings which depicted real scenery, colour field surface, dot, and line appeared in Lee's works. This was also the reflection of the change of Lee's interest from visible things to more fundamental natural elements and the energy they made. Lee climbed famous mountains in Korea numerous times, producing The Mood of the Mountain series. Meanwhile, Lee met Beopjeong, who was a novelist and monk known for the Musoyu (Non-Possession) spirit, and it marked a turning point in Lee's career.
Meeting Beopjeong became a motivation for Lee to create The Moon Jar series. This represents the Musoyu spirit, which means 'emptiness makes filling possible,' by emphasising the contrast between the background filled with Obangsaek (the five Korean traditional colours) dots and the subject Lee simplified. Through The Moon Jar series, Lee was immersed in Musoyu, and ended up eliminating the subject which was the only figurative element, reaching complete abstractness. At this time, Lee asked himself the question about his origin once again, staring at the canvas full of Obangsaek dots. The Light+Grain series, which describes the moonlit sea of his hometown, is the answer to this question. Finding the origin in his hometown, Lee Choun Hwan has explored the Korean beauty and the nature, working with his abstract painting, the Light+Grain series, which portraits a sense of the beauty of nature.
Even though Lee has covered several materials, it is noteworthy that his series are all linked to each other. Since the exhibition shows all the series of the artist, it provides an opportunity to feel the interactions between works, and Lee's life-long endeavours to find his root and to broaden the artistic world.
Press release courtesy SEOJUNG ART.
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