Concern over Lee Woo-hwan’s forged paintings

In 2002 when I met painter Lee Woo-hwan, I was deeply impressed by his simple look, humbleness, and strong artistic spirit. “One should read 10,000 books, give 10,000 thoughts, and visit all different places before holding up the brush (to paint).” “A painter is also an intellectual.” “It is an act of crime to easily make compromise to cater to the public’s taste.” Having once dreamed about becoming a novelist, he was philosophical and poetic in rhetoric. When I visited the residence of French ambassador to Korea two years ago, he was so excited while showing me his workbook for ‘Lee Woo-hwan, the Palace of Versailles’ exhibition.

Since last year, rumors have circulated in the art community that forged paintings of his work from the 1970s are in circulation. Many artists sympathized with him who voiced that “What will the Republic of Korea gain by killing the painter with rumors of forged paintings that do not exist?” However, a painter who forged paintings and a man who circulated counterfeit paintings were arrested and 13 pieces of artworks that were seized were determined to be fakes through appraisal by the National Forensic Service and other eval‎uations.

However, the painter himself claims that they are not forged paintings. In a press conference on Friday, Lee repeatedly said, “I am a painter. Trust me.” He even stated “Police made a trap. I don’t even know what the National Forensic Service’s analysis is. The painter’s appraisal should prevail over law.” His claim without presenting legitimate ground seemed to be lacking persuasiveness. More than anything, no one in any community is above the law. An artist is no exception.

“In the opaque Korean art market where artworks that have no signatures or transaction records are traded for millions of dollars per piece at a large art gallery, forged pieces will naturally emerge,” a source in the art community said. “Police is not trying to destroy painters’ artistic value but is trying to root out damage from counterfeit artworks. I don’t understand why painter Lee is trying to distort the essence of the issue by claiming (the police) is trying to attack him.” Some in the arts community said, “If painters admit that fake paintings are in circulation, the prices of their paintings will drop, and therefore not only art galleries but also painters themselves are trying not to admit.” Others say that “If he feels he owes the Korean market that assisted his success, he would be obliged to proactively cooperate in investigation, rather than vociferating that ‘I am not responsible.’” Fourteen years ago, painter Lee told this writer: “A genuine painter should not deceive the public.” Now I wish to tell him this.

허문명논설위원 angelhuh@donga.com