Lee Jung Seob
Encyclopedia
Lee Jung Seob was born in Pyeongwon, Pyeongannamdo in 1916. He entered into Dosan School and met an art teacher named Lim Yongryeon who had studied art at Yale University and worked as an artist in Paris. He was affected by Lim Yongryeon who emphasized drawing.
He entered Teikoku Art School
for Occidental
Painting in Japan in 1965 and studied Art in earnest. But he abruptly quit that school and entered Bunka Gakuen (Japanese: 文化學園), which was more fascinated with the avant-garde
than Teikoku Art School. He showed Fauvist
tendencies and a strong and free drawing style at Bunka Gakuen. Also he met a woman named Yamamoto Masako (Japanese: 山本方子, Korean name (in hangul
): 이남덕) who would later be his wife.
He graduated from Bunka Gakuen in 1944 during the last stage of World War 2, and married Masako the following year. In 1946, his first child was born but the baby died suddenly from diphtheria
. At that time, he was preparing an exhibition and making artwork as an unknown artist and the death of his child shocked him. Taking this event, he sent his painting “A Child Flies with a White Star,” which was inspired by his loss, to the exhibition commemorating the independence of Korea
in 1947.
Following the outbreak of the Korean War, he didn’t settle one place and instead wandered the country. He took refuge in Busan with his first son, Taehyun, who was born in 1947, and his second son, Taeseong who was born in 1949. But with a fear of the progress of war, he fled to Jeju
. However due to the hardships of life there, Masako left for Japan with his two sons. After that, he never met his family except for a short meeting for 5 days in Tokyo in 1953.
He came to Seoul with returning to the capital. He hold only one private exhibition at Midopa gallery in 1955. After that, he suffered from a type of schizophrenia
credited to longing for his family and the hardships of his life. In his loneliness he turned to alcohol, and he passed away of hepatitis in 1956 in Seoul.
His style was influenced by Fauvism and his themes were very characteristic and indigenous. He made great contributions to the introduction of western styles in Korea. Also he made line drawings with an awl
on packs of cigarettes. His works include “Ox” (in The Museum of Modern Art, New York), “White Ox”(at Hongik University
) and so on.
He entered Teikoku Art School
Musashino Art University
is a university in Kodaira, western Tokyo founded in 1962 and has roots going back to 1929.Teikoku Art School was founded in 1929; in 1948 it became Musashino Art School , and in 1962 it became Musashino Art University...
for Occidental
Western culture
Western culture, sometimes equated with Western civilization or European civilization, refers to cultures of European origin and is used very broadly to refer to a heritage of social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, religious beliefs, political systems, and specific artifacts and...
Painting in Japan in 1965 and studied Art in earnest. But he abruptly quit that school and entered Bunka Gakuen (Japanese: 文化學園), which was more fascinated with the avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
than Teikoku Art School. He showed Fauvist
Fauvism
Fauvism is the style of les Fauves , a short-lived and loose group of early twentieth-century Modern artists whose works emphasized painterly qualities and strong colour over the representational or realistic values retained by Impressionism...
tendencies and a strong and free drawing style at Bunka Gakuen. Also he met a woman named Yamamoto Masako (Japanese: 山本方子, Korean name (in hangul
Hangul
Hangul,Pronounced or ; Korean: 한글 Hangeul/Han'gŭl or 조선글 Chosŏn'gŭl/Joseongeul the Korean alphabet, is the native alphabet of the Korean language. It is a separate script from Hanja, the logographic Chinese characters which are also sometimes used to write Korean...
): 이남덕) who would later be his wife.
He graduated from Bunka Gakuen in 1944 during the last stage of World War 2, and married Masako the following year. In 1946, his first child was born but the baby died suddenly from diphtheria
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium. It is characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity...
. At that time, he was preparing an exhibition and making artwork as an unknown artist and the death of his child shocked him. Taking this event, he sent his painting “A Child Flies with a White Star,” which was inspired by his loss, to the exhibition commemorating the independence of Korea
Korean independence movement
The Korean independence movement grew out of the Japanese colonial rule of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945. After the Japanese surrendered, Korea became independent; that day is now an annual holiday called Gwangbokjeol in South Korea, and Chogukhaebangŭi nal in North Korea.-Background:In...
in 1947.
Following the outbreak of the Korean War, he didn’t settle one place and instead wandered the country. He took refuge in Busan with his first son, Taehyun, who was born in 1947, and his second son, Taeseong who was born in 1949. But with a fear of the progress of war, he fled to Jeju
Jeju
Jeju may refer to:*Jeju-do, a province of South Korea** Jeju-do, the main island of Jeju-do**Jeju City, the biggest city on Jeju-do and capital of Jeju-do**Jeju dog, a dog native to Jeju-do...
. However due to the hardships of life there, Masako left for Japan with his two sons. After that, he never met his family except for a short meeting for 5 days in Tokyo in 1953.
He came to Seoul with returning to the capital. He hold only one private exhibition at Midopa gallery in 1955. After that, he suffered from a type of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
credited to longing for his family and the hardships of his life. In his loneliness he turned to alcohol, and he passed away of hepatitis in 1956 in Seoul.
His style was influenced by Fauvism and his themes were very characteristic and indigenous. He made great contributions to the introduction of western styles in Korea. Also he made line drawings with an awl
Scratch awl
A scratch awl is a woodworking layout and point-making tool. It is used to scribe a line to be followed by a hand saw or chisel when making woodworking joints and other operations....
on packs of cigarettes. His works include “Ox” (in The Museum of Modern Art, New York), “White Ox”(at Hongik University
Hongik University
Hongik University, usually known as "Hongdae" for short, is a private university in the Mapo-gu district of central Seoul, South Korea with a second campus in Jochiwon, Chungcheongnam-do. Hongik University offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs...
) and so on.