TAESEOK JU

Taeseok Ju’s(b. 1954) past 10-year series of "Nature·Image" forms a symbolic forest as a chapter that corresponds to nature, humans, and spirit and matter. In the forest, element that betraying realism is contained; a double representation between the background and the front. Dividing the screen into dual structures to show the difference between fact and abstraction. The trees in the foreground that depicted in hyperrealism symbolizes the matter and the shadows of leaves, forests, and monochromatic large background in abstract form are the mind. It is the contrast between reality and fantasy, matter and spirit. He depicts nature that is different from reality and makes them into idealized appearance of nature. As humans who are not satisfied with the reality seem to be looking for utopia.

Taeseok Ju is not only an active painter but also the professor at Hongik University Fine Art in Korea, which is one of the most prestigious art school in Korea and Director of Hongink University Museum of Contemporary Art. He chaired and advised prestigious organizations such as University Art Counsil, Seoul Museum of Korea. Held more than 50 solo and 750 group exhibitions at domestic and overseas. He held exhibitions at the most prestigious venues in Korea such as National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul Arts Center.