Artist ‘The Fool’, born in 1959, began his journey as a full-time artist at the age of 60. This transformative odyssey was ignited by a simple query posed by his daughter: "How about you start drawing the pictures that you truly love?" This question served as the pivotal catalyst that ushered him into the realm of art and made him the artist that he is today.
The Fool possessed a love for drawing even in his youth. In his childhood, a painter uncle served as his main source of inspiration. However, without adequate encouragement and nurturing of his artistic inclinations, he set aside the brush for a more conventional life. Yet his love remained and, after a lifetime of regret, it was the allure of “cobalt blue” that rekindled the artist within him and summoned him back to the canvas.
His first attempts at artistic expression employed an array of tools, ranging from traditional brushes to even harnessing the forces of the wind. However, nothing seemed to suit him until he discovered the gratification of manipulating paint to trace lines. This technique, known today as the "Spiral Technique," became the cornerstone of his artistic repertoire. While the subject matter and thematic elements of his creations may vary, the "Spiral Technique" endures as a constant and defining feature.
"I visualize the essence within me and through that visualization, I rediscover the essence." – The Fool
The Fool infuses his artworks with the profound and destiny-laden hue of "cobalt blue." Enthralled by the resplendent aura exuded by this color, he embarked on his artistic voyage with unswerving dedication. His spirals of blue emanate vibrancy and vitality, extending gracefully like tendrils. In stark contrast to the rigidity of straight lines, nature's design principle gravitates toward the curvilinear. The spirals he meticulously paints with pigments encapsulate the essence of nature's vitality onto the canvas. To fully absorb this energy, the artist eschews conventional brushes; instead, he pours paint into an empty vessel and, guided by his own physicality, intuitively traces the course of the lines as he paints. These spirals, born of countless iterations, mimic the graceful curves intrinsic to the natural world. This ritualistic repetition serves as both a form of practice and a meditative journey, forging an unbreakable connection between the artist and his art.
In January, 2023, he debuted with a solo exhibition entitled "Life is but a dream." This exhibition showcased over 60 pieces, with a pronounced emphasis on the resplendent backdrop of cobalt blue. He has since embarked upon new experimental ventures, diversifying his palette and exploring novel forms of artistic expression. As if releasing decades of pent up artistic passion in one moment, the Fool is exploding onto the art scene with a multitude of exhibitions in this inaugural year.
Exhibitions
2024 - Feb. 07-29 'Letting Go' (Group Exhinition)
2023 - Dec. 9~24 'Romanticism' (Group Exhibition)
2023 - Sep. 9~Oct. 1 “Turn off the Frame” (Solo Exhibition)
2023 - Jul. 14~Jul. 30 “Wonderland” (Group Exhibition)
2023 - May 27~Jun. 4 Seoul Art Center Fair (Solo Exhibition)
2023 - Apr. 4~May 30 “Discovering Me” (Solo Exhibition)
2023 - Jan. 5~Feb. 15 “Life is but a dream” (Solo Exhibition)