Exhibition commemorates artist Yoo Young-kuk

This exhibition is definitely noteworthy. A photo of his painting fails to make you feel the texture of the painting. An exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Yoo Young-kuk is currently being held at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art under the theme of "Yoo Young-kuk, absoluteness and freedom." His works will be displayed by March 1, 2017. You can witness his intense touch and it will give you a solid consolation for the disturbed daily life in many ways.

From the photos of his works, you may notice only blunt figures in vivid colors. In front of his real paintings, however, multiple layers of skins are appeared graphically. Considering that the texture of skin greatly affects one’s appearance, the textures of layers in Yoo Young-kuk’s paintings (1916-2002, photo) are genuinely inspiring.

Born in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province, Yoo studied at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts in Japan. After he returned to Korea, he drove his father’s boat, which was his dream since he was young. During the Korean War, he restored and operated ruined distillery in his hometown, while raising hogs and feed them by brewer’s grains. Likewise, he had a strong ability to maintain his livelihood.

His tendency to resist against oppression since young became more evident when he began to draw paintings professionally. He taught at the College of Fine Arts of Seoul National University in 1948 at the recommendation of artist Kim Hwan-ki. But he resigned the post in two years as he was asked to decide between the professorship and a membership of the 1950 Artists Association consisted of artists in their 30s, who sought free development of arts. Yoo repeatedly refused to attend the National Art Exhibition claiming that the exhibition was not get away from the harmful effect of antiquated factionalism. He became a professor of Hongik University in 1966, but resigned the post in four years when a three-day workweek changed to a six-day workweek, saying that he would keep the identity of a professional painter.

About 100 paintings are separately exhibited in two floors. On the first floor, the first half of his works from the ones he painted while studying abroad to his first exhibition at the Korea Press Center in 1964 are displayed. The second half of his works include the ones that he solely buried himself to painting after he suddenly quit to work with other artists in groups. He often tried greatly changing his styles and such change had been maintained for a long time. In 1977, a pacemaker was put in his heart due to myocardial infarction, his condition had worsened and he suffered from cerebral apoplexy several times until he died. Such faltering power of touch were significantly expressed on canvas.

"I painted as I was thinking that he would eventually return to the softer, more relaxed style of his natural forms, but only after studying the basics until the age of 60," Yoo had said. "Through tight tensions that I felt in front of the paintings, I am reborn and renew his commitment and eagerness."

Taek Kyoon Sohn sohn@donga.com