If you are interested in Korean Art, then you must have heard of the artist Lee Ungno (1904~1989). Lee Ungno is the master of Korean modern art who created modern abstract paintings using East Asian painting traditions. He was born in Chungnam and started art as a traditional Sagunja (the four gracious plants) artist when he was 19. He studied in Japan where he acquired a new landscape style before moving to France in 1958. After moving to France, he held numerous exhibitions there and in Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Denmark, Belgium, and the United States. In 1964, he established the Paris Oriental Art School in Paris to teach calligraphy and oriental painting, becoming the first Korean artist to spread oriental art to Western cultures. Now, fortunately, there is an art museum in Daejeon, where we can see his paintings in person. It is the Lee Ungno Museum at Daejeon Expo Citizens’ Park. This museum has a large collection of his works, which you can see anytime you visit the museum.
This year, the museum plans to hold four exhibitions in a series, each based on a theme. I attended the first exhibition, titled Lee Ungno: New Style. It was named this because he was such an ardent proponent of new things that his friends nicknamed him New Style. The exhibition was divided into four thematic sections. In Hall 1, I saw how his art evolved through his creations from the 1960s to the 1970s. Hall 2 offered an experience of his new style through the abstract artworks he created in the early 1950s before moving to France. Hall 3 displayed sculptures and paintings that he created after relocating to France. Lastly, Hall 4 featured the artworks that were created during his life in prison on a false charge of spying for North Korea.
It was a wonderful experience seeing his fascinating artwork near our university. It only took me 30 minutes to get there, and I was surprised to find that the admission fee was only 500 won (or 300 won for those under 24!). In addition to the fantastic artwork, the art museum building itself is magnificent. According to the museum staff, the famous French architect Laurent Beaudouin designed the museum, and it is his only oriental work to date. I strongly recommend visiting the Lee Ungno Museum to appreciate his various artworks and marvel at the gorgeous museum building. After enjoying the exhibition, you can stroll through the relaxing Daejeon Expo Citizens’ Park.
Although the first exhibition, Lee Ungno: New Style, has ended, you can still enjoy the next exhibition, Meeting Again after 70 Years, Lee Ungno and Park Seungmu, which features collections from both Lee Ungno and his friend Park Seungmu, from April 25 to August 13. I hope you have the opportunity to experience his spirit at the Lee Ungno Museum someday!
Directions
Location: 157 Dunsandaero (Mannyeon-dong), Seo-gu, Daejeon
Exhibition period: 23.04.25~23.08.13
Opening Hours: 10:00~19:00
Admission Fee: ₩500 (₩300 under the age of 24)
Contact: 042) 611-9800/Instagram: @leeungno
Website: www.leeungnomuseum.or.kr
Chungnam National University to the Lee Ungno Museum by Bus
- Bus 108 (Chungnam National University Library – Teachers’ Pension Hall) ⇒ 20-minute walk
- Bus 108 (Chungnam National University Library – Teachers’ Pension Hall) ⇒ 4-minute walk ⇒ Bus 606 (Ggumnamu Apt – Hanbat Arboretum)