[Gallery Walk] The History of 'Engraving' Not 'Replication': Print Odyssey

Sejong Art Museum Special Exhibition 'Print Odyssey'
Featuring Over 120 Works by 33 Domestic and International Artists
Experience Hands-On Activities On-Site Alongside the Exhibition

In an era where digital technology has become part of everyday life, an exhibition reflecting on the impact of the expansiveness of carving and printing through traditional woodblock prints is being held.

Exhibition view of the Print Odyssey at Sejong Art Gallery, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.
[Photo by Sejong Center for the Performing Arts]

Held at the Sejong Museum of Art in Sejong Center for the Performing Arts until January 5, 2025, "Print Odyssey: The Journey of Contemporary Printmaking" explores the diverse world of print art while highlighting the essential charm and expansiveness of this genre. "Print Odyssey" offers an opportunity to witness the artistic evolution from traditional printmaking techniques to contemporary expressions through over 100 works by 33 domestic and international artists.

The exhibition, divided into six sections showcasing the essence and modern variations of printmaking, begins with the first section, "The Beginning of Carving," which explores the popularity and historical significance of printmaking through artifacts such as Joseon Dynasty woodblocks. From the very start, visitors understand that printmaking is more than just an artistic creation; it has been used as a tool to convey information and spread culture.

The second section, "Breath of Nature," presents works by artists such as Kim Seung-yeon and Lee Sang-guk, who created pieces centered on nature. These works, carved in abstract or intuitive forms that capture the primal power and beauty of nature, offer visitors a new perspective on the relationship between nature and humanity.

Exhibition view of the Print Odyssey at Sejong Art Center Sejong Museum of Art. [Photo by Sejong Art Center]

The following section, "Our Image," features works by artists like Oh Yoon and Kwon Soon-wang, focusing on people and animals to express Korean sentiments and social messages. The pieces reveal the interaction between the inner world of the subjects and their environment through detailed carving and vivid expression.

A notable highlight of the exhibition is Oh Yoon’s series of prints depicting the people. Oh Yoon portrayed the turmoil of Korean society in the 1980s and the stories of the masses through printmaking. His works offer a profound impact on viewers through bold expressive techniques that go beyond visual beauty to convey social messages.

Additionally, Kim Ku-rim’s "Boundaries of Everyday Life" series expresses objects and boundaries found in daily life in abstract forms, presenting visitors with a new perspective on the ordinary. His intaglio technique reveals artistic beauty even in the smallest details through meticulous carving.

Oh Yoon, Abby, 1981, woodblock print, 36x35 cm [Photo provided by Sejong Center]

Seo Hyo-jung’s works, showcasing modern experimentation, use coding-based digital media art to explore the fusion potential between traditional printmaking and technology. The exhibition highlights the reinterpretation of traditional techniques into a contemporary language through the essential commonality of coding algorithms and the repetitive patterns of printmaking.

Beyond simply appreciating the artworks, the exhibition offers programs where visitors can directly experience the artistic process by creating prints themselves. Drypoint and silkscreen technique workshops allow participants to use tools to produce their own works, providing an opportunity to enjoy the creative process. A Christmas ornament-making program for children attracts family visitors and offers a special memory.

Print work by Karl Ross.
[Photo by Sejong Center for the Performing Arts]

"Print Odyssey," which explores the technical sophistication and artistic messages of printmaking while investigating the fusion possibilities of tradition and modernity, art and technology, convincingly presents printmaking not merely as a legacy of the past but as a medium demonstrating the future artistic expansiveness.

Yoo Bo-eun, curator of the Sejong Museum of Art and planner of the exhibition, explained, “Korea, as the nation that produced the world’s oldest woodblock print, the 'Mugujeonggwang Daedaranigyeong,' possesses an outstanding printmaking DNA. So, what kind of works are contemporary print artists creating? Also, when people think of printmaking, they often associate it only with the concept of ‘reproduction.’ This exhibition was planned to highlight the original meaning of ‘carving’ and to provide an opportunity to experience printmaking firsthand.”