Park Seo Bo (1931-2023)

It is with enormous sadness that we mark the passing of Park Seo-Bo (1931-2023).

Park Seo-Bo was a giant of Korean art and a leading figure of Dansaekhwa. First begun in the late 1960s, his ‘Ecriture’ series embrace an introspective methodology that had its origins in Taoist and Buddhist philosophy and also in the Korean tradition of calligraphy. This spiritual approach is inextricably linked to notions of time, space and material, concepts which underpin all of the artist’s work.

In the early works, Park used repeated pencil lines incised into a still-wet monochromatic painted surface, and the later works expand upon this language through the introduction of hanji, a traditional Korean paper hand-made from mulberry bark, which is adhered to the canvas surface. This development, along with the introduction of colour, enabled an expansive transformation of his practice while continuing the quest for emptiness though reduction. 

Possessed of an extraordinary energy and drive, Park continued to work daily in the studio following his diagnosis of cancer this year. Through the PARK SEOBO Foundation, he supported younger artists and cultural programmes as well as preparing for a future museum of his own work. His passing will be very deeply felt.

Our sincere thoughts are with his beloved family.

Find out more about the work of the PARK SEOBO Foundation.