 
KOREAN CONTEMPORARY
"OTT" PAINTING & CRAFT-ART
April 10 - May 9, 2003
For Immediate Release - Gallery Korea is pleased
to announce the presentation of a new exhibition
of contemporary lacquer paintings and objects. Called
Ott in the Korean language, lacquer work is an ancient
East Asian craft that is freshly rejuvenated in
the work of the three artists in this exhibition.
Sungsoo Kim will show a series of recent paintings,
while Seol Kim and Hae Cho Chung will each show
a selection of craft objects. The Korea Daily has
organized this exhibition.
Sungsoo Kim’s paintings display a wide
range of vibrant colors that he has developed
through years of experimentation with innovative
variations of mother-of-pearl finishes. His methods
are derived from traditional Korean inlay techniques
and incorporate metal strips, eggshell, and wood
powder as well as mother-of-pearl; they result
in flowing images with precise details. He has
received many awards in Korea and has exhibited
in China and Japan. He has lived in California
since 1998 and is currently a visiting professor
at Tsinghua University, Beijing.
Seol Kim and Hae Cho Chung are both distinguished
professors in Korea who have sent over a selection
of wooden objects and vessels embellished with
mother-of-pearl lacquer finishes.
The production of lacquerware in East Asia has
been dated back at least 9,000 years. Korean lacquerware
in particular developed in terms of quality and
sophistication during the K?ryo period, from AD
918 to 1392. Later improvements in lacquer manufacturing
made lacquerware widely available for everyday
use by middle-class Koreans.
The lacquer used in Ott painting is formulated
by refining the sap of the lacquer tree (rhus
verniciflua), which is native to central and southern
China, Korea, and possibly Japan. The lacquer
tree is a member of the Anacardiaceae family,
which includes poison ivy and poison oak. Artists
working with the material must first build up
tolerance to its toxic effects.
Raw lacquer is a dull brownish black color; in
order to create the many brilliant colors found
in Ott painting and crafts, artists must add precise
amounts of different mineral pigments. The lacquer
must be painstakingly built up in layers and requires
a specific temperature and humidity to dry and
harden. A fine polishing then reveals flawless,
shiny surfaces that can be carved or inlaid with
various materials. Korea has a long tradition
of producing exquisite inlaid lacquer and furniture
and fine craftsmanship is evident in the extremely
high quality of contemporary manufactured furniture
and household objects.
In this exhibition a traditional art is transformed
by contemporary innovation and expressively enriched
with the personality of individual artists.
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