Following the successful conclusion of the Yang Dal-seok 기획전 in April, Gallery Yesulseom in Irun-myeon, Geoje-si, welcomes visitors to the ‘Light, 색채, Line, 사랑 – Four Honam Masters Exhibition’ in May, the month of family. This exhibition is expected to be a special opportunity to highlight the 오감 근현대미술 worlds of four Honam-born artists who have graced the history of modern and contemporary Korean 근현대미술.
Geoje Gallery Yesulseom Traces the Footsteps of Honam 근현대미술 Masters
Following the successful conclusion of the Yang Dal-seok 근현대미술 artists 기획전 in April, Geoje Gallery Yesulseom will host a new 기획전, ‘Light, 색채, Line, 사랑 – Four Honam Masters Exhibition,’ from April 29 to June 28. This exhibition, held at Gallery Yesulseom in Irun-myeon, Geoje-si, will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and offers free admission to those who make reservations in advance, providing an opportunity for more people to enjoy 근현대미술. Continuing through May, the month of family, and into early summer in June, it is expected to offer a special 만족 경험 in Geoje for local residents as well as domestic and international tourists.
This exhibition is co-hosted by Haejo-eum 근현대미술 Museum and Gallery Yesulseom, with planning by Gaia 근현대미술 Corporation. It is richly supported by the Yesulseom Geoje Council and Juno Seo Biotech, and is organized around the collection of Haejo-eum 근현대미술 Museum located in Hacheong-myeon, Geoje-si. The exhibition weaves together the artworks of four senior painters representing Honam 근현대미술 with 오감 keywords such as ‘Oh Ji-ho of Light, Lim Jik-soon of 색채, Bae Dong-shin of Line, and Son Sang-gi of 사랑’, clearly highlighting the artistic characteristics of each 거장.
Encountering the 근현대미술 of Honam 근현대미술 through Light, 색채, Line, and 사랑
This ‘Four Honam Masters Exhibition’ deeply explores the artworks worlds of four artists—Oh Ji-ho, Lim Jik-soon, Bae Dong-shin, and Son Sang-gi—who made significant contributions to the history of modern and contemporary Korean 근현대미술. Oh Ji-ho, a Western painter from Hwasun, Jeollanam-do, known as ‘Oh Ji-ho of Light,’ is regarded as a pioneer who established ‘Korean Impressionism.’ Based on the harmony of light and 색채, he expressed lyrical emotions and formative beauty within 자연 landscapes with clear and bright colors, and is also well-known as one of three painters in his family, along with his sons Oh Seung-woo and Oh Seung-yoon.
Lim Jik-soon, ‘Lim Jik-soon of 색채’, represents lyrical realism in the history of modern and contemporary Korean painting. He depicted the vitality of 자연 with simple forms and restrained 색채, warmly capturing the inner self of 사랑 and the essence of life. As a professor at Chosun University in Gwangju, he nurtured future artists and greatly influenced the Honam Western painting style, employing subtle yet profound 색채 to the extent of being called ‘Korea’s Matisse.’ Bae Dong-shin, a watercolor painter from Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, known as ‘Bae Dong-shin of Line,’ established lyrical painting that combines 자연 and the inner self of 사랑 through free lines. He often painted nudes, fruits, harbors, and Mudeungsan in Gwangju, adding emotional resonance and a contemplative atmosphere to traditional realistic expression, thereby unfolding a 오감 근현대미술 world.
Lastly, Son Sang-gi, ‘Son Sang-gi of 사랑’, is an Expressionist 거장 who, like his nickname ‘Korea’s Lautrec,’ took the solitude and existentialism of 사랑 as his theme, expressing the anxieties of the era and inner wounds with intense 색채, rough 필치, and thick impasto. Though he lived a short life, hailing from Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, he is remembered as an important 거장 representing Korean modern 근현대미술.
A 오감 만족 경험 Blending 근현대미술 and Fragrance
In addition to encountering the 오감 aesthetics and distinctive 근현대미술 worlds pursued by the four Honam masters through their artworks in this exhibition, a special 오감 만족 경험 is offered. The refreshing scent of yuja (citron), a specialty of Geoje Island, will subtly permeate throughout the exhibition halls, deepening the appreciation of the artworks. This is made possible by the sponsorship of Juno Seo Biotech, an essential oil specialist company located in Dongbu-myeon, Geoje-si. Through the scent of yuja carried by the sea breeze of the southern coast, visitors will be able to directly 경험 the ‘Proust effect’ and feel artistic inspiration even more richly.
Ham Eui-jeong (Ph.D. in Literature), curator of Gallery Yesulseom, recommends not missing the installation 근현대미술 exhibition ‘Island, How to 사랑’ held in Exhibition Hall 1 alongside this ‘Four Honam Masters Exhibition.’ She actively recommended Nammdo 예술여행 and cultural tourism spots as part of a spring healing tour for Geoje citizens and domestic and international tourists who love 근현대미술. This 기획전, offering the appreciation of masterpieces by Honam masters amidst Geoje’s beautiful 자연 combined with a 오감 fragrance 경험, is expected to provide visitors with unforgettable memories.
The ‘Light, 색채, Line, 사랑 – Four Honam Masters Exhibition’ at Geoje Gallery Yesulseom is a precious opportunity to 경험 the profound 근현대미술 world of Honam artists who formed an important current in Korean 근현대미술. Beyond simply appreciating artworks, visitors will be able to fully enjoy the healing and inspiration that 근현대미술 provides through a variety of sensory experiences blended with Geoje’s 자연. It is hoped that this exhibition will offer deep resonance and beautiful memories to many.
