Ecriture No.991114

Park Seo-Bo, Korean, 1931 - 2023

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1999

Acrylic paint, shell powder, and Hanji paper on canvas

Overall: 38 3/16 × 51 3/8 in. (97 × 130.5 cm)

Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth: Purchased through a gift from Evelyn A. and William B. Jaffe, Class of 1964H, by exchange, the Evelyn A. and William B. Jaffe 2015 Fund, and a gift from various donors, by exchange.

© Park Seo-Bo

2022.36

Geography

Place Made: South Korea, East Asia, Asia

Period

20th century

Object Name

Painting

Research Area

Painting

Not on view

Label

To create this work, Park Seo-bo covered the canvas with layers of damp and dyed hanji, Korean mulberry paper. He then scored its soaked surface with a stick at regular intervals. This laborious process creates rows of furrows, emphasizing hanji’s tactile materiality.

Unveiled in the 1970s, Park’s Ecriture series was the result of his contemplation of art’s role amid Korea’s experiences of decolonization, dictatorship, and industrialization. For Park, the repetitive act of incising lines embodied a spiritual journey, a means of emptying himself and harmonizing his mind with art. For viewers, Park intended his painting to serve as a sanctuary, liberating them from societal burdens. This responsibility drove the artist to continue painting until his passing on October 14, 2023. His last words—“Prepare the canvas. There is still a lot of work to do”—resonate with his commitment to his artistic journey.

Exhibition History

LeWitt Wall, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, November 8, 2023.

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