SUH SE-OK (KOREA, B. 1929)

Born in Daegu in 1929, Suh Se-ok, founder of art group called Mungnimhoe, is a pioneer of Korean modern art, particularly in creating non-figurative ink painting. Graduated from the Art College of Seoul National University, he won the Prime Minister Award at the first National Art Exhibition in 1949 when he was attending the college. He has participated in a number of exhibitions such as Korean Contemporary Art Tour Exhibition in France, Cannes International Painting Festival, Korean Contemporary Art Tour Exhibition in Europe and Korea-China Art Exchange Exhibition including San Paulo Biennale in 1963.

Suh's abstract, almost austere works of traditional Chinese ink on mulberry paper are incisive sketches of human society, which were represented People series (Lot 487-488). The works are executed in a single substantial stroke. The resultants are a repetition of simple figures, which are Suh's symbol for human beings and rendered with fascinating variation in terms of thickness, tone and size.