A female artist who pursues Korean identity through
an aesthetics of experience
Nam Soo Kim / Art Critic
Pursuing and coexisting globalized art style is an urgent
question of the survival of Korean art. Some have been insisting this
logic of 'the more Korean styled, the better global', however, when this
self-righteous persistence is not approved in world market, Korean art
will be degraded with prejudice and obstinacy.
Nevertheless, there was an opposite toadyish view of
accepting Western art uncriticallyandunconditionally that
leaded Korean art to wander in conflict and contempt for the last 7, 80
years. Fortunately, some of senior and young artists had become aware
of the wrong direction, and thenendeavor to find the right position of
Korean art. Especially in style of oil paintings, Koreanize the theme,
technique or material is the short cut to escape from Westernism, and
the only way to survive in global
art environment.
As a padding, I would like to give a familiar example. Recently,
Han Woo Lee (75, painter) was invited in selected exhibition at Luxembourg,
Paris. He was the first Asian invited artist, and that is a remark in
Korean art history. Moreover, it is the nation's honor as well as the
artist himself.
The reason he was invited is that he pursues Korean character in
Western painting. Native characteristic of Korean art shared the sympathy
with global art style. To have a worldly known artist means three things.
First, acquisition of foreign currencies, second, attracting tourists,
and as a third, globalizing the market of art industries. The know-how
of making art raise immense reaching effect.
<Ten longevities>
I presume that the realm of Oh, Yoon Haw's art is related to this
notion. in her recent works she unfolds series of 'longevities painting',
which can be morality of Korean mentality. Even though a man is the lord
of all creation, many artists had been depicted sun, cloud, water, rock,
pine tree, bamboo, iris, tortoise, crane, and deer as an imagery of longevities
that are propitious andsacred in their everlasting lives. Of course these
imageries are established on ethnic belief of long life and good
<ºÐÈ«Àå¹Ì I> 40.9x31.8cm Oil on Canvas 2001
<°í±Ã¿¡ÇÉ ¹é¸ñ·Ã> 45.5x37.9cm Oil on Canvas 2001
<°í±Ã¿¡ÇÉ ÀÚ¸ñ·Ã>
45.5x37.9cm Oil on Canvas 2001
health, yet, the spiritualism is based on speculative philosophy of Asian
ideology.
These 'ten longevity' work was invited at Gal Hyun-Ri Museum in
Gwa Chun from February 7th to 13th. it is rising as a work in limelight
that is suggesting the possibility of Korean art. The artist is introducing
Expressionism style in the theme, conception, and methodology of this
work that is encouragingly
accepting in the point of modernizing traditional subject
matter in the novel canons of painting. Because Asian narrative mystery,
invocation of blessing, cherished desire, and prayer are concentrated
in this 'longevity painting. 'The title work' ten longevity'is replacing
our existing space into fairyland in Utopia and putting sun, cloud, water,
rock, pine tree, bamboo, iris, crane, deer, andtortoise in there. The
artist finishes her work with surrealistic touch with delicate andslender
stroke. As a novel challenge of western style painting, the creative vision
of Koreanart is forecasted. She pledges an enthusiastic resolution to
study and express the art style with Koreancharacter such as ten longevities
earnestly. She expresses her conviction that although she uses western
tools and medium, to survive in international competition, she needs to
pursue Korean spirit, subject, and methodology.
Passage of the work
The present writer has been emphasize that the element of work of
art is to be beautiful, to move people, andthat beauty has to be perpetual.
Of course the work that fulfils the necessary condition becomes a worldwide
masterpiece.
<¹éÀå¹Ì ÇÇ´ø³¯> 45.5x37.9cm Oil on Canvas 2001
<ºûÀÇ À¯Èñ IV> 116.8x91cm Oil on Canvas 2002
Oh, Yoo Hwa received an honorary doctor's degree in fine art at
Pacific Western University in Los Angeles, U. S. A.. Since it was the
degree after she passed and examined through the practical tests, it could
be said as genuine doctoral degree. She asserts her faith in her realm
of art as this.
"art is something originally beautiful. The aesthetics is a
study to pursue that beauty as well. If the balance in aesthetics is upset,
it's not art anymore."
The lack of beauty is the simple reason for that she is not fond
of contemporary art such as installation or performance art. How about
the global art tendency? It is easy for an artists
to be evaluated that they are in the mannerism or stagnant
because they follow one form or genre in their works. We have been experiencing
through famous artists that an artist who works in diverse style and comprehensive
propensity, they can grow as large scaled and mentally opulent artists.
Oh, Yoo Hwa had been working as and artist for the last 30 years.
The first solo exhibition in quartercentury is due to her prudent and
careful personality, yet, it indirectly suggests that she is good at both
talent andability to come to the public. Still, she honestly confesses
that to decide to have an exhibition
she needed tremendous courage and determination.
It is clear that she is an advisable figure to be a model and paragon
for the few who is hasty to be successful.
She had been study under Choi, Tae Yae, the painter since 1993. she seeks
for an aesthetics of experience through Oriental and Western art realms.
Her wide range of work shows that she studied diversity and depth of practice.
To classify process of development or period of change of her work, for
early 13, 4 years, she sought after thorough academismbased on super realism.
In this period, she acquired fundamental disciplineof
sketch, drawing, croquis of nudes and figures. Then she learned various
techniques of Chinese ink painting such as the four gracious plants and
literary artists style painting. Since 1990, she beginsoil painting. To
point out one thing that hasn't change in the period of liberal access
to various arts is 'persuasion of the beautiful figure.' I could say she
tries to materialize the ideal beauty. She is the artist who has straightforward
faith and consciousness who can't look aside or climb on the bandwagon.
Therefore she is not concerned about modernism, avant-garde, minimal art,
post modernism, contemporary art, or installation art. Once she made an
abstract piece from the simple impulse, but she got over it because it
didn't go with her character. The special feature of Oh's work is that
she copes with any given subject like still life, landscape, nude, or
figure. Moreover, she chooses her favorite subject and express with magical
presentation in color and skill as well as her spirit andtheme. In her
work, the aura or tone is beautiful, and has adequate fine luster. It
shows fresh fruits, the daybreak of steep mountains and dark valleys that
brightens lonesome dimness, the artistic effect ofmoist
<¼³¾ÇÀÇ °Ü¿ï> 53x45.5cm Oil on Canvas 2002
<°¡À»ÀÇ Á¤Ãë>90.9x72.7cm Oil on Canvas 1997
valley, diverse change of the valley in blue green and grayishwhite color.
Her favorite flower painting has a splendid taste as she represented Peonies
andRoses paintings in Tokyo and Paris with her serial works.
In conclusion, thus she walked the path of challenge and trial
overcoming various changing period, and praising the aesthetics of freedom
through experiences. Where her work recently fixed is this 'ten longevity'painting,
which is full of peace, dearest wish, and happiness.
I would like to watch with great interest her path with unacquainted
realm of work.
¡á
Pacific Western University in America, Honorary Doctor in
Fine Arts
¡á Completion of Graduate
School of Art, Hongik University
¡á Study & Training
of Grand Shomier, Paris Academy
¡á Republic of Korea Youth
Art Festival, Superiority Award
(Saejong Cultural Hall 1968)
¡á Nationwide Saemaeul Art
Festival, the Best Award
(National Theater 1975)
¡á The 16th Republic of
Korea Art Competition Exhibition,
Being Selected(Kwachun National Modern Art Museum)
¡á The 17th Republic of
Korea Art Competition Exhibition,
Special Selection(Kwachun National Modern Art Museum)
¡á The 18th Republic of
Korea Art Competition Exhibition,
Special Selection(Kwachun National Modern Art Museum)
¡á The 19th Republic of
Korea Art Competition Exhibition,
Being Selected(Kwachun National Modern Art Museum)
¡á The 1st Private Exhibition(Lotte
Gallery, Chamsil)
¡á The
2nd Private Exhibition(Tokyo Modern Art Gallery, Japan)
¡á The 3rd Private Exhibition
(Dansung Gallery Invitation Exhibition)
¡á
76' Figure Painting 3 Persons Exhibition
(Soowon Hwarang)
¡á New-Salon
6 Countries Invitation Exhibition
(Seoul City Museum)
¡á China
Haeulbin Invitation Exhibition
(Haeulbin City Museum, China)
¡á Korea¡¤Taipei
Exhibition
(Centered on Daebook Ssensinjang Culture & Art) ¡á Korea¡¤Japan
Creation Association Exchane Exhibition
(Tokyo Embassy Cultural Center of Republic of
Korea to Japan)
¡á
Chungdam Art Festival Invitation Exhibition
(Chosun Hwarang)
¡á Expression
& Announcement Exhibition
(Daelim Art Gallery)
¡á Beautiful
Seoul Painting Exhibition
(Seoul City Museum) ¡á
Korean
Art Association Exhibition(Hall of Art) ¡á
Hongin
Exhibition(Moro Gallery) ¡á
International
Hwawoohae Exhibition
(Saejong Cultural Hall)
Present ¡á
Member of Korean Art Association, Art Specialist
Association, Korea¡¤Japan Creation Association &
International Hwawoohae