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Master painter Hyuck Lim Jeon is called a “magician of colors” or “painter of the sea.” The pioneer in Korean color field abstraction has had free access to both representationism and non-representationism and established his own sphere in the formative arts.
He was born in 1916 and is one of the existing great painting magnates who have survived a variety of cultural tribulations and fluctuations in the modern age. He seriously started his career as a painter when he presented his works such as 'mythic seashore' and 'moonlight' to the Busan Art Exhibition in 1938. Compared to ordinary painters from local regions, who are inclined to be conservative, Jeon is one of the few artists who have intention to express traditions by using avant-garde formative techniques of modern art. His desire for experiments has led him to trials to enlarge his own artistic sphere and indulge in the diffusion of vivid life. He established Tong-yeong Cultural Association* in 1945 in cooperation with Chi-hwan Yu, I-sang Yun, Chun-su Kim and others in the aftermath of the Korean emancipation for the Japanese colonial rule and in the vortex of many immediately subsequent tribulations. After the Korean War, Hyuck Lim Jeon won the special award in the National Art Exhibition while leading a wandering life in Busan. The painting circles in Busan enabled Jeon to establish his stronghold as an artist. In the 1950s, he introduced for the first time to Busan atypical paintings whose exponents include Informel. Jeon is none other than the pioneer of modern and contemporary arts in Busan and non-representational paintings in the Yeongnam region.
He has kept a distance from the "central" circles of painters, paid no attention to academic affiliation (it is an evil in the art circles), and made no compromise with temporary vogues, but silently constructed his own dominion of art colors and landscape in his hometown. The works of this old painter, whose age passed well over 90, still attract many artists to his unique world, while growing increasingly and mystically mature. In addition, his spirit to explore the art world knows no rest in pursuing another formative art world on a different dimension. Jeon is still glaring with his untiring curiosity, enthusiasm, ardor, and love for the beauty and aesthetics.
* Tong-yeong Cultural Association
This association was organized by the most advanced forerunners in the fields of literature, music and art at that time such as Chi Hwan Yu, I Sang Yun, Chun Su Kim, and Hyuck Lim Jeon, with a view to enlighten the public. It offered the people opportunities to attend literary lectures, artistic exhibitions, and Korean language classes. It also searched for and performed Korean traditional dances and organized troupes. The troupes staged original and adapted plays and toured to Masan and Jinju and other neighboring cities to perform the plays, since the members of the theatrical companies enshrined in their bosom this slogan: ‘Let us nurture our national ethos through cultural movements in our freed fatherland.’
January 21, 1916 Born in Chungmu, South Gyeongsang Province, Korea
1929 Graduated from Tongyeong Elementary School
1933 Graduated from Tongyeong Marine Professional School
1938 Sent his works entitled "Mythic Beach," "Nude," and "Moonlight" to the 1938 Art Exhibition held
in Busan
1945 Founded the Tongyeong Cultural Association in cooperation with Kim Sang-ok, Kim Chun-su,
Yu Chi-hwan, and Yun I-sang
1947 Sent his works to an exhibition hosted by the South Gyeongsang Province Art Research
Association
1949 His painting accepted for the First National Art Exhibition
1952 Hosted his first personal exhibition at Mildawon in Busan, and a four-man exhibition
at a coffee house called "Hosim" in Tongyeong in cooperation with Yu Gang-ryeol,
Yi Jung-seop, and Jang Yun-seong
1953 Sent his work entitled "Marsh" to the Second National Art Exhibition where he was awarded
the Minister of Education Prize
1955 His painting specially selected for the Fourth National Art Exhibition
1956-62 Conducted a ceramics research---participated in a research into a possibility of ceramics
coloration and an experimental production of colored porcelain (under the auspices of the
Korea Ceramics in Busan)
1962 Sent his work to the National Art Exhibition without passing through a prior inspection
Awarded the Fifth Busan City Cultural Prize (the Artistic Creation Prize)
1965 Sent his work to an international free art exhibition held in Tokyo, Japan
Sent his work to an exhibition commemorating the March First Independence Movement
hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Public Information
Hosted a personal exhibition in Busan in March
1969 Hosted his first personal exhibition of paintings and ceramics at the Seoul National Public
Information Center
Hosted a ceramics exhibition at the gallery of Busan Commercial Bank
1970 Hosted a personal exhibition of drawings and oil paintings in Jinhae
1971 Hosted the second exhibition of paintings and ceramics at Cosmos Department Store in Seoul
between June 25 and July 3
1974 Hosted a personal exhibition in Busan in January
Hosted a personal invitation exhibition at Spring and Fall Gallery in Seoul in November
1975 Hosted a personal invitation exhibition of minor works at Space Gallery in Busan
1976 Hosted an exhibition of paintings and ceramics at Master Gallery in Busan
1977 Hosted a personal invitation exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary of Tongyeong
Fisheries Professional School at a coffee house called "Hosim" in Chungmu
Hosted a three-man invitation exhibition at Suro Gallery in Busan
1979 Hosted a five-man invitation exhibition at Ye Gallery in Seoul
1980 Sent his work to the "invitation exhibition for contemporary artists in 1980" planned by the
National Museum of Contemporary Art
1981 Sent his work to an "exhibition for Korean nature" planned by the National Museum of
Contemporary Art
Sent his work to a "charity art exhibition for physically handicapped people" hosted by the
Korean Broadcasting System
Hosted a personal invitation exhibition at Spring and Fall Gallery in Seoul
between November 26 and December 2
1982 Sent his work to an "exhibition to raise funds for the construction of the Independence Hall"
hosted by the National Museum of Contemporary Art
1983 Hosted a personal invitation exhibition of oil paintings and ceramics at Fountain Site Gallery
in Seoul between April 15 and 24
Sent his work to the "invitation exhibition for contemporary art in 1983" planned by the National
Museum of Contemporary Art
1984 Served as an examiner at the Korea Great Art Exhibition
Hosted a personal invitation exhibition of oil paintings and ceramics at Fountain Site Gallery
in Seoul between November 8 and 17
Served as an examiner at the South Gyeongsang Province Great Art Exhibition
Awarded the Chungmu City Cultural Prize
Participated in an "invitation exhibition of Western pictures featuring mountains" planned by
Shinsegae Art Museum
Sent his work to an "exhibition for the Korean Fine Art Association" planned by the National
Museum of Contemporary Art
1985 Sent his work to an "exhibition for the Korean Fine Art Association" planned by the National
Museum of Contemporary Art
Sent his work to the "invitation exhibition for contemporary art in 1985" planned by the National
Museum of Contemporary Art
Hosted an invitation exhibition of cubic paintings produced by Hyuck-lim Jeon at Fountain Site
Gallery in Seoul
1986 Participated in the First Seoul Art Fair as an artist from Fountain Site Gallery
Sent his work to the "exhibition for yesterday and today of Korean contemporary art" planned
by the National Museum of Contemporary Art
1987 A collection of his paintings entitled "Hyuck-lim Jeon" published by Ye-mun Co., Ltd.
1988 Trip to foreign countries (India, Egypt, Greece, UK, France, etc.) for artistic purposes
Sent his work to the "invitation exhibition for contemporary art in1988" planned by the National
Museum of Contemporary Art
Hosted an invitation exhibition at Maek-hyang Gallery in Seoul between March 17 and 28
Hosted a personal exhibition at Space Gallery in New York, U.S.A.
1989 Attended a personal invitation exhibition at Hoam Gallery hosted by Joongang Ilbo between
October 25 and November 13
1990 Hosted a personal exhibition at Fountain Site Gallery and Busan Gallery World between
November 15 and 24
Attended the Tokyo Art Fair
Sent his work to an "exhibition featuring today's situation of Korean art" celebrating the
opening of the art museum belonging to Seoul Art Center
Made a trip to Mt. Baekdu via China as a participant in the "exhibition for the actual view of
Mt. Baekdu" planned by Dong-a Ilbo in August
1991 Sent his work to the "exhibition of new collections in 1990" planned by the National Museum
of Contemporary Art
Sent his work to an "exhibition for the actual view of Mt. Baekdu" hosted by Dong-a Ilbo
1992 Hosted a personal exhibition at the art museum belonging to Chosun Ilbo between
June 2 and 11
Sent his work to an "exhibition of paintings produced by senior artists" planned by the
National Museum of Contemporary Art
Sent his work to the "invitation exhibition for contemporary art in 1992" planned by the National
Museum of Contemporary Art
A collection of his paintings entitled "Hyuck-lim Jeon" published by Uri Art Research Institute
Enthroned to the position of the head of the South Gyeongsang Province Great Art Exhibition
1993 Invited to send his works to an "exhibition of contemporary art" celebrating the opening of the
whole precincts of Seoul Art Center
Sent his work to an exhibition at Tokyo Art Museum managed by the International Artexchange
Association
Invited to send his works to an "exhibition for interpreting devil posts" planned by Seonam Art
Museum
Enthroned to the position of the head of the South Gyeongsang Province Great Art Exhibition
1994 Sent his work to the "Seoul International Contemporary Art" exhibition hosted by the National
Museum of Contemporary Art
A collection of his paintings published by Dong-a Ilbo
Hosted a personal exhibition at Ilmin Cultural Center between June 7 and 18
Sent his work to the "exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the peasants'
revolution in 1894" hosted by Seoul Art Center
1995 Sent his work to an "exhibition for Korean contemporary art in Beijing" hosted by the Chinese
Art Museum in Beijing, China
Sent his work to an "exhibition of today's works" hosted by Seonjae Art Museum
1996 Sent his work to an "exhibition of beautiful dinosaurs in the 21st century" hosted by Seoul Art
Center
Awarded an Order of Cultural Merits of Republic of Korea
1997 Hosted a personal exhibition at Sun Gallery between October 21 and November 1
1999 Hosted a personal invitation exhibition at Space Gallery in Busan
Attended a personal invitation exhibition hosted by Masan Munhwa Broadcasting Center
2000 Awarded the Ilmaek Cultural Prize conferred by Busan Ilmaek Cultural Foundation
2001 Sent his work to an "exhibition of the drawings produced by senior artists so-called 'a play
with hands'" planned by the National Museum of Contemporary Art
2002 Sent his chosen work entitled "Marsh" (produced in 1953) to the "exhibition of 100 selected
Korean modern paintings" hosted by the National Museum of Contemporary Art
Hosted the "exhibition for Hyuck-lim Jeon, the artist of the year" at the National Museum of
Contemporary Art
2003 Hosted the "exhibition for Hyuck-lim Jeon aged 88" at I-yeong Art Museum in Suwon
Hosted the "exhibition celebrating the 88th birthday of Hyuck-lim Jeon" at I-yeong Art Museum
in Suwon
2004 Hosted the "exhibition celebrating the 88th birthday of Hyuck-lim Jeon" at Hyuck-lim Jeon Art
Museum
2005 Sent his work to an international art fair in Korea held at Samsung COEX in Seoul
Hosted the "exhibition for new works 90years old still young" at I-yeong Art Museum in Suwon
2006 Attended a special invitation exhibition for establishment of Masan
MBC (Munhwa Broadcasting Centre) in the 37th anniversary
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