The Page Gallery is delighted to present re- and de-, a solo exhibition by a leading figure of abstract sculpture, PARK SUK WON (b.1942), from 11 January to 24 February 2024. This showcase consists of works from the 1980s to recent works in sculptures and paintings, highlighting the artist's philosophy.
Throughout the Accumulation series from the 1980s, employing the method of “abstract-cutting” and “accumulation,” he has prominently worked with nature-based materials such as stones and wood. In pursuit of an unorthodox approach to his work, PARK SUK WON has kept his distance from handed-down techniques. His methodology built a new flow of Korean abstract sculpture. In the absence of any representational image, he immerses himself in a simplified and abstract form of a sculpture, leading to the question of the existence of men.
The core concepts of “accumulation” and “repetition” also expand in PARK SUK WON’s two-dimensional works. Embracing the tendency of natural resources or materials, he aggregates the Korean traditional paper, “Hanji,” vertically and horizontally on a canvas. Through the practice of repetition and re-assembly, he once again underlines the value of the pure properties of materials while expanding his philosophy to two-dimensional paintings. Though the repetition of simplistic forms resonates with the Minimalism of the West, PARK SUK WON distinguishes himself by using nature-based materials, establishing the philosophy of Korean Minimalism. The Accumulation series is an examination of the potentiality of an oeuvre, hence seeking the harmony between men and nature.
PARK SUK WON (b.1941) is a leading figure in the history of Korean contemporary sculpture. In 1968 and 1969 – in his twenties – he received an award for Cho-To and Bee-Woo from the Chairman of the National Assembly at the National Art Exhibition of the Republic of Korea. This award placed him as one of the most prestigious artists in Korea. As a part of a founding member of the Korean Avant-Garde Group (AG), he participated in the 5th Paris Biennale (1966) and the 10th Sao Paulo Biennale (1969). From 1993 to 2008, he was a professor at Hongik University in the sculpture department. His most recent solo exhibitions were held at Gana Art Center and Kim Se Choong Museum. His works are held in the collections of prominent museums, including MMCA, GMoMA, Daegu Art Museum, Walkerhill Museum, TMCA Complex, among others.
