Intense 'Magic of Colors'... Remembering Artist Jobusu

Reappraisal Exhibition at Dongsung Gallery Until the 30th
Meet 25 Oil Paintings from the 1990s

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] “I never learned painting from anyone. You should never try hard to imitate someone. A painter must build his own world and always devote himself to his work.”

Jo Busoo, who left a strong message in the art world, was an artist who signed an exclusive contract in 1993 with Dean Tenpas Gallery in New York, USA, which had a long relationship with painter Kim Whanki, and actively worked on the global art stage. His works were traded in various countries including Sotheby’s auction in the United States, and he gained recognition by holding exhibitions at Gallery Vienna in Austria and Dewaet Gallery in Brussels, Belgium. His abstract expressionist works attracted attention from experts and collectors both domestically and internationally.

Earlier, in 1992, the artist drew public attention by tearing and burning about 1,000 works he had created in Nanjido. Although it was known to be due to the artist’s own doubts about the artistic value of his works, what was clear was the message of resistance against the hegemony and commercialism of the contemporary art world.

Oilseed Rape 200X360cm 1993 on the Jobusoo Orchestration Canvas

Dongsoong Gallery in Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul is holding an exhibition re-examining artist Jo Busoo (1944-2017) until the 30th. This exhibition features 25 oil paintings from the 1990s, when the artist was most active and employed a brilliant painting style.

Behind the confidence of burning over 1,000 works was a wellspring of energy. Jo was a talented individual who stood out in art, holding his first exhibition as a high school sophomore in 1962 while still a student. Having made a name in prestigious international competitions, he emerged as a Korean contemporary artist gaining overseas attention through a solo exhibition at Lincoln Center in 1991.

The theme the artist focused on during this period was ‘Orchestration,’ where intense primary colors such as red, yellow, and blue harmonize with abstract images, leaving a deep impression.

Jobusoo Orchestration Canvas, Oil on Canvas, 105x105cm, 1996

Leaving behind brilliant colors, active work, and overseas art world attention, the artist suddenly disappeared in the 2000s. News of him was conveyed in 2017 through an obituary. From 2012, Jo was commissioned by the Resurrection Cathedral at Hwangsaebawi Martyrdom Site in Gongju, where about 280 ancestors of the faith were martyred, and he worked for over five years creating more than 3,500 murals and floor paintings by firing ceramic tiles and attaching them one by one.

After completing the work, the artist exhausted all his strength and passed away in 2017 after battling illness.

During his lifetime, Jo Busoo emphasized, “I consider being true to myself as the best. Only by being honest with my own emotions can I achieve an independent expression different from Western sensibilities. I think deeply about ‘Koreanness.’”

This exhibition, which re-examines the artist’s most brilliant moments after a lifetime devoted to his work and the establishment of his profound artistic world, will offer the audience a dynamic resonance along with vivid images.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.