Exhibition showcases South Chungcheong artists' landscapes

South Chungcheong is in the works to open a provincial art museum in 2027, and before that it will tease what it has in store.

“Enjoying Oneself with Fishing” (1972) by Pak No-soo [CN GALLERY]

South Chungcheong is in the works to open a provincial art museum in 2027, and before that it will tease what it has in store.

The CN Gallery in Jongno District, central Seoul, an exhibition space operated by the South Chungcheong provincial government, is holding a group exhibition of four late renowned artists from the region. The CN Gallery is dedicated to presenting the works of artists who are from South Chungcheong or living in the province.

Titled “Landscape,” the show sheds light on pieces by Lee Sang-beom (1897-1972), Pak No-soo (1927-2013), Min Kyoung-kap (1933-2018) and Chang Ucchin (1917-1990). These artists focused on portraying natural scenery like mountains and rivers throughout their careers.

“Ecology 1” (1988) by Min Kyoung-kap [CN GALLERY]

Although all four artists have produced works that depicted South Chungcheong scenery, they each worked in other regions, which is why not many know about their relation to the province, said Yoon Yeo-jin, the curator for the exhibition during a press conference on Thursday.

The exhibition is divided into two floors, comprising of 21 pieces made after 1960. The first floor contrasts painting styles by Lee and Pak. Lee, who was a mentor to Pak, typically painted gray, achromatic landscapes that were realistic, while Pak used vibrant colors instead of the traditional ink-and-wash style while incorporating Western and Eastern elements into his pieces.

“Enjoyment of River Fishing in Fall” (1960) by Lee Sang-beom [CN GALLERY]

Min and Chang similarly created paintings that were a mix of both worlds' techniques and materials, shown on the second floor. Min used sumuk (ink) and bright colors to illustrate the harmony of nature, blurring the boundaries between abstract and figurative art. Chang opted for paintings that represented the enjoyment of a simpler life, which was portrayed through ink, marker and crayon drawings on display.

The South Chungcheong museum, tentatively called the Chungnam Museum of Art, was initially supposed to open this year, but due to experiencing delays from the pandemic, construction will begin in September. It will be located in Hongseong County.

“Untitled” (date unknown) by Chang Ucchin [CN GALLERY]

“This museum will not just house fine artworks, but will be like a landmark for South Chungcheong, functioning as a cultural complex,” Yoon said.

“Landscape” continues until Aug. 28. CN Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Mondays. The exhibition is free.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]