Yoo Youngkuk: Quintessence

Yoo Youngkuk was born and raised in the remote hinterlands of Uljin, South Korea. In the 1930s, he left to study art in Japan and returned to Korea in 1943 amid the turmoil of the Pacific War, when he earned a living as a fisherman and liquor maker while continuing to paint. After 1955, he resumed his art practice in earnest, leading many early avant-garde groups and lecturing. His works later brought him national recognition, drawing much praise from critics and the public alike. From the 1960s onward, he withdrew from group activities and devoted himself entirely to working in his studio, exhibiting every two years. Yoo's unique compositional approach and formal techniques uncovered a prototype of nature in colour palettes and geometric forms. His unshakable belief in the power of abstraction formulated an enduring modernist view of civilisation and history.

Showcased for the first time in this beautiful book, his seminal works embody the core philosophy of Korean identity and "national art." Reminiscent of the deep waters, rugged mountains, fertile valleys, and brilliant sun of his Uljin hometown, Yoo's powerful aesthetic draws viewers into his quintessence of nature in a directly emotional way.