Parthasarathi even called Lee ``karma yogi’’ as the painter really seems to be born to produce great paintings to complete his karma in life.
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By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
Indian Ambassador to Seoul N. Parhasaathi, left, delivers a speech
during an opening ceremony of the painting exhibition “Have I ever seen
India” while painter Lee Ho-shin looks on, at Hakgojae in Kwanhun-dong,
Seoul, Wednesday.
/Korea Times Photo by Lee Seong-oh
Ever since a Korean painter traveled 50 days in India in 2003, he has
not been able to keep the country from his mind. So he decided to have a
painting exhibition to fully bring out his obsession with the country.
Lee Ho-shin, 49, opened his 11th painting exhibition ``Have I ever seen
India’’ at Hakgojae Gallery in Kwanhun-dong, Seoul, on Wednesday. The
exhibition will run until Jan. 24.
Exploring Calcutta, Bombay, Himalayan Annapurna and Ajanta, the painter
captured the history, culture, religion and the realities of India on
Korean paper called ``hanji.’’
The exhibition shows 41 paintings on hanji. The paintings are of such
people and places as India’s former leader, Mahatma Gandhi, the Taj
Mahal in Agra, the Ganges River, the Ajanta Caves, Indian children, and
Indians’ spiritual daily lives such as prayer and meditation.
Though the painter said he held this event to thank those who
contributed to his trip to India, people present at the opening all
agreed that they knew he would love India and it would inspire him to paint.
``When I look at paintings of Lee Ho-shin, I can feel they are alive,’’
Indian Ambassador to Seoul N. Parthasarathi said. ``Look at this Mahatma
Gandhi, I can hear him whisper a message to me.’’
The ambassador went on to say that the illustration of the Ganges River
and people bathing in it makes him feel the wind at the riverside.
``Painter Lee’s works represents a harmony between life and nature.’’
The ambassador’s comments reflected the work of the well-known painter
who draws the correspondence between nature and human beings as lively
as possible. To show what he felt in India, he sent 140 picture-letters
to acquaintances in Korea while he was traveling.
Parthasarathi even called Lee ``karma yogi’’ as the painter really seems
to be born to produce great paintings to complete his karma in life.
Lee In-ho, former Korean ambassador to Russia, echoed the view, saying
that something like a spiritual aura emanates from the paintings, which
connect nature, humans and life. ``For example, I am moved more when I
look at Lee’s paintings than when I see the real things that are
depicted in the paintings.’’
Actually, the painter also wrote about the country in his travels. He
held a publication ceremony of his book ``Have I ever seen India?’’
along with the exhibition.
He felt that the paintings alone couldn’t express the India he experienced.
Asked why the title of the exhibition and the book is ``Have I ever seen
India?’’, the painter-cum-writer said it’s probably because he is not
sure if he saw and experienced India 100 percent.
Nevertheless, Lee’s works show he has a deep insight of India as critics
have indicated.
Kim Hak-ryang, curator of Seoul Museum of Art, said Lee does not belong
to a group of painters who rely on theory, and defined him as a painter
who works through field research.
``Lee listens to trees, birds and grass and meets people for a while,
and absorbs the feelings, and then he begins to take a brush to paint,’’
Kim said.
More information of the exhibition is available by calling the gallery
at (02) 739-4937.
yoonw...@koreatimes.co.kr
01-15-2006 21:24