CompositionYi Eungro · 1968
Korean Expressionism
1968
130.0 x 33.0 cm
Lee Ungno Museum
Yi Eungro (1904 – 1989)
Explore Yi Eungro's (Lee Ungno) innovative art: Korean-French painter blending Eastern & Western styles, known for abstract ink collages & crowd paintings.
Lee Ungno Museum (Daegu, South Korea)
Explore the life & art of Korean master Lee Ungno at this Daegu museum! Discover 500+ works, including his Abstract Letter series & prison paintings. Experience exhibitions, cultural insights, and a unique blend of Eastern & Western influences.
In 1967, Lee Ungno was imprisoned for 2 years and 6 months for his involvement in the East Berlin Affair. He suffered most from an inability to continue his practice there; however, as he adjusted to the prison environment, he started painting on tissue using soy sauce as ink and making models with rice paste, which he collected from his meal. This painting shows one example of the Abstract Letter paintings that he made in prison using ink on hanji and then painting over the canvas with soy sauce as if testifying to his imprisonment. Unlike ink, soy sauce is not a proper pigment and thus, its colour is brownish rather than black when it is put on paper; as it is not rich enough to make a long spread, the canvas shows several marks where he had to resume the application of the soy sauce at each moment.
About this artwork
- Title: Composition
- Artist: Yi Eungro
- Year: 1968
- Original dimensions: 130.0 x 33.0 cm
- Format: Tall
- Copyright status: Under copyright
- Where to see it: Lee Ungno Museum
- Creative period: Prison Years
- Corpus context: symbolic narrative, prisoner's testimony
- Keywords: east asian art, korean art, soy sauce ink
Questions & Answers
Can "Composition" by Yi Eungro, held at the Lee Ungno Museum, be legally reproduced?
"Composition" by Yi Eungro, held at the Lee Ungno Museum, is still protected by copyright. This status determines whether reproductions of the image may be made.
How strong are the colors of "Composition"?
"Composition" by Yi Eungro is recorded with a muted saturation and a monochromatic intensity.
Can the image of "Composition" by Yi Eungro be freely reproduced?
Regarding copyright, "Composition" is still protected by copyright.