Daesung Park Holds Solo Exhibition at Lian Gallery Daegu
Unveils 7-Meter-Tall "Waterfall" Artwork
Showcases Numerous Signature Willow Tree Paintings
Capturing the Eastern Sentiment of Light Green Willows and a Full Moon
On August 14 at Lian Gallery Daegu, artist Daesung Park (80) appeared with white hair, yet his posture was upright and his gaze sharp. Although he never received formal art education, the traditional Korean painting techniques he mastered through self-study established a unique domain known as "Sosan Ink Wash." For him, art is akin to a sacred ritual. He believes, "Only by cultivating and disciplining the mind, and practicing a clear and unashamed attitude toward life, can the brush find its rightful place. That is ultimately the state of perfection in art." The title of this exhibition, "Hwayeogiin" (Painting Reflects the Person), embodies this philosophy. The idea that "the painting is the person" directly conveys Park's belief in the unity of the artist and their work. Sixteen such Korean paintings are on display.
At the meeting held on the 14th at Lian Gallery Daegu, painter Daesung Park is explaining in front of his work "Waterfall." Photo by Seomeadeum
The highlight of the exhibition is a 7-meter-tall piece titled "Waterfall," displayed across the first and second floors of the gallery. Park created this work specifically for Lian Gallery's soaring ceilings. At the base, where two powerful waterfalls cascade down, neat Hangul script-personally designed by the artist-is inscribed. Park explained, "To honor King Sejong's intentions, I pledged to use only Hangul, not Chinese characters that people can barely recognize."
Park's interest in large-scale works began in 1973 after encountering masterpieces from the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan. He recalled, "Those paintings utterly overwhelmed me. From that moment, I started creating large works." The hallmark of Sosan Ink Wash is the addition of color to black ink, which overcomes the monotony often found in traditional East Asian painting. "Someone once asked me, 'Why do you bring such dark paintings and expect people to buy them?' So I started adding some color," he said. "Although I never attended formal art school, that allowed me to break free from conventions."
At a meeting held on the 14th at Lian Gallery Daegu, artist Daesung Park is explaining his artwork. Photo by Mideum Seo
This exhibition features a large collection of Park's signature willow tree paintings. Against an Eastern backdrop, vibrant green willows fill the canvas, always accompanied by a large, round moon hanging in the background. "Willows bloom first in early spring. The vitality of nature is truly impressive," he explained. "The moon is beloved by all Koreans. The sun simply doesn't have the same charm."
An Hyeryeong, director of Lian Gallery and curator of the exhibition, commented, "What sets Daesung Park apart is his vitality. There is an immense energy radiating from his work that you can't find in other East Asian paintings. His fully saturated color fields are more intricate than those in Western painting. The beauty is so overwhelming that we decided to host Park's first solo exhibition at Lian Gallery."
Previously, Park donated 830 works to Solgeo Art Museum in Gyeongju and is planning an additional donation to Yonsei University's Songdo campus. "People around me kept talking about contemporary art, so out of curiosity, I visited art museums in the United States and saw donor names listed on plaques everywhere. That inspired me to make my own donations," he said.
In 2022, Park became the first Korean artist to hold a solo exhibition at LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art), the largest art museum on the U.S. West Coast, and held touring exhibitions at eight local museums, drawing significant attention. He is currently planning an exhibition in San Francisco next year. This exhibition, offering a glimpse into his works that are reaching a global audience, runs through October 18.
Who is Daesung Park?
Born in 1945 in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province, Park is currently based in Gyeongju. The Solgeo Art Museum in Gyeongju was established in 2015 as a public art museum following Park's offer to donate his works, and it now houses about 830 of his pieces. Park was selected for the Korea Art Exhibition for eight consecutive years starting in 1969, won the Grand Prize at the JoongAng Fine Arts Competition in 1979, and received the Ok-Gwan Order of Cultural Merit in 2020. His works are part of the collections at major international museums, including LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art), the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College, the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH). In Korea, his works are housed at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Gwacheon), Daejeon Museum of Art, Busan Museum of Art, Hoam Art Museum, and the Blue House.
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