YOO YOUNGKUK

Yoo Youngkuk is widely recognized for condensing inner landscapes into the motif of the mountain through vivid primary colors and restrained geometric compositions, moving beyond the simple representation of nature.

The exhibition inaugurates SeMA’s new exhibition series, “Korean Modern Masters,” an initiative that seeks to reconnect the achievements of Korean modern art with contemporary perspectives rather than approaching them solely as historical records. Following the museum’s widely recognized “Special Exhibition of Overseas Masterpieces,” the series establishes another major exhibition track for SeMA.

Yoo Youngkuk: A Mountain Within Me presents a comprehensive overview of more than sixty years of Yoo Youngkuk’s artistic practice. The exhibition bringstogether approximately 170 works and archival materials, Seoul Museum of Art 61 Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, 04515, Korea www.sema.seoul.go.kr 2 including 115 oil paintings, and illuminates the full arc of the artist’s life and practice: from his avant-garde experiments during his years in Tokyo in the 1930s to the final paintings produced during prolonged illness and repeated surgeries later in life. Rarely seen works are also included in the exhibition, offering a valuable opportunity to further illuminate lesserknown aspects of Yoo Youngkuk’s artistic world.

Reassembling Time: 1964, a Pivotal Moment

The exhibition opens with the pivotal year 1964, a major turning point in Yoo Youngkuk’s artistic journey. Moving away from a conventional chronological retrospective, it unfolds through five sections that reassemble the decisive moments that shaped the artist’s practice.

The exhibition takes as its point of departure an artistic declaration made in 1964, the year Yoo Youngkuk held his first solo exhibition at the age of 49 and chose a solitary path, committing himself to solo exhibitions rather than group-based artistic activities.

Moving back and forth through time, visitors begin with Yoo Youngkuk’s decisive turn in 1964, trace back to his early avant-garde experiments and then move forward again toward the height of his abstraction in the 1960s and 1970s, ultimately arriving at the world of his later abstract imagery.

A highlight of the exhibition is the section “A New Perspective on Yoo Youngkuk’s Late Abstraction – Abstract Imagery Through Union with Nature,” which presents the world of abstract imagery (simsang chusang) in Yoo Youngkuk’s later works, where the “mountain” motif he pursued throughout his life ultimately becomes one with his inner world. Visitors encounter the essence of his later paintings from the 1980s onward, which move beyond intense pictorial tension toward a restrained and contemplative sense of calm.

From Audio Guide to City Skyline: A Multisensory Experience

The exhibition also presents a range of collaborative projects and public programs that expand the experience of Yoo Youngkuk’s artistic world across multiple forms and media. Pianist Son Yeol-eum and broadcaster Peter Bint participate as voice ambassadors for the exhibition’s official audio guide in Korean and English respectively, guiding visitors through the artist’s journey.

During Frieze × Seoul Art Week in September, SeMA will collaborate with the Seoul Design Foundation on “Seoul Light DDP 2026 Autumn,” a largescale media projection presented across the 222-meter façade of Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), bringing Yoo Youngkuk’s artistic vision to life through light and image. Artist Hayoun Kwon will participate in the 3 project, creating a spectacular nighttime scene in which the master’s vivid colors illuminate the city.

A series of talks and workshops featuring spatial designer Yang Teo and poet Park Joon will offer contemporary reinterpretations of Yoo Youngkuk through the perspectives of today’s contemporary creatives. An academic symposium and further programming will run throughout the exhibition period; full details will be announced via the museum’s website (sema.seoul.go.kr) and official social media channels.

Choi Eunju, Director of SeMA, remarked, “At a time when technology is reshaping the very concept of artistic creation, this exhibition offers an opportunity to reflect on the essential value of human intuition and the practice of painting. I hope it becomes a celebratory occasion to rediscover the historical achievements of Korean modern art through the language of today.”

The exhibition is free and open to the public without reservation. During the exhibition period, visitors will also be able to enjoy a pop-up café offering special beverages inspired by Uljin, the artist’s hometown, alongside more than 100 merchandise items specially produced for the exhibition. Detailed information regarding exhibition schedules and programs is available through the Seoul Museum of Art website (sema.seoul.go.kr)