The artist Lee Jung-seop (이중섭) is said to have been particularly fond of Seogwipo… where he lived during some of the last years of his life. Various events are being held to honor the artist, ahead of next year’s 100th anniversary of his birth… including the first-ever public display of a handwritten letter by his wife. Mike Laidman reports. [Slug] Letter from Lee Jung-seop’s wife on display for first time
In December 1951, Lee Jung-seop(이중섭)’s wife, Lee Nam-deok (이남덕, Yamamoto Masako) wrote this letter to her parents in Japan. Now it’s on display to the public for the first time, marking next year’s 100th anniversary of the artist’s (이중섭) birth. The letter contains detailed descriptions of the family’s life in Jeju at the time.
[INTERVIEW] Jeon Eun-ja / Curator, Leejungseop Art Museum It describes what life was like in Korea for Lee Jung-seop and his wife, Lee Man-deok; in what sort of environment the artist painted, and the passion he had... < 전은자 / 이중섭미술관 학예사 > 이중섭 화가와 이남덕 여사가 한국에서 어떻게 생활했고 어떤 환경에서 그림을 그렸고 예술에 대한 열정이 어땠었는지 구체적으로 알 수 있고..
Also on public display for the first time are certificates of entry to Japan which were used by Lee Jung-seop’s sons, a telegraph sent by the artist to his wife, as well as his death certificate.
Following the outbreak of the Korean War, Lee and his family took refuge in Seogwipo where they lived together for a year. Lee described this time as the happiest year of his life. This is conveyed in the ongoing exhibition “Beloved Jeju Scenes’ ('그리운 제주도 풍경').
[INTERVIEW] Kim Na-hee / Suwon, Gyeonggi Province I’d only known about his famous ox paintings, but today I learned that he lived in Jeju for a while and that he really missed his family (in Japan). I’ve become even more interested in his works. < 김나희 / 경기도 수원시 > 소 그림으로 유명한 화가로만 알고 있었는데 제주도에 잠깐 계셨다는 것도 이번에 알게된 사실이고, 가족에 대한 그리움이 컸다는 사실과 /// 함께 이중섭 작품에도 많은 관심을 갖게 됐습니다.
[Camera] Kim Seung-cheol
A number of other events are on their way over the coming months.
A seminar on Lee Jung-seop will be held on September 7th, followed by a special concert and the Lee Jung-seop Art Festival on the 19th and 20th. In October, a screening of the film “Lee Jung-seop” is planned.
Also, the Lee Jungseop Art Museum will be accepting applications for scripts and musical numbers for a new operetta about his life in Seogwipo.
Script applications can be sent from September 14th, and musical scores will be accepted in November.
[INTERVIEW] Hong Myeong-pyo / Chair, Lee Jung-seop project Comm. The 100th anniversary of the birth of Lee Jung-seop is a big event in both Korea and Japan. I believe it will open up a new era for Jeju’s culture and arts scene. < 홍명표 / 이중섭 탄생 100주년 기념사업 추진위원장 > 100주년을 조명하면서 국내 뿐만 아니라 일본에서도 관심있는 행사로써 제주문화예술에 큰 획을 그을 것이란 자부심을 갖고 있습니다.
[Reporter] Mike Laidman
2016 marks 100 years since this well-known artist was born. With the many special exhibits and performances planned for the new year, Lee Jung-seop is slowly but undeniably becoming Seogwipo’s most represented cultural icon.
