Artist Kim Chang-bae, this year’s recipient of the Korea Art Award, is holding an exhibition of his traditional Korean paintings at the Korea Art Center in Seoul from Nov. 26-Dec. 5. 

“Kim has embraced the spiritual scent of tea in his work,” said Lee Il-young, director of the Korea Art Center, in a statement. “(His work) also highlights ... the destruction of nature and loss of humanity today, and the importance of a life in harmony with nature.”

Kim’s work, painted with ink on traditional Korean mulberry “hanji” paper, often depicts his subjects frolicking in lush nature or serenely enjoying a cup of tea.

“Chrysanthemum Tea Gathering,” one of Kim’s representative pieces, for example, features a mother and daughter seated over a white tea set and a male servant heating water, surrounded by chrysanthemums in full bloom.

A graduate of Dongguk University’s graduate school for art education and a descendant of Kim Dong-ho, a prominent artist of the Joseon era, Kim has held 39 independent exhibitions, while his work has been invited to over 2000 group exhibitions worldwide. He was the first Korean artist to be invited by the Polish government to exhibit his work at the country’s National Museum of Ethnography.

“Kim’s work has preserved the purity and legitimacy of Korean genre art while developing it as a modern art form,” said director Lee. “His work features restrained strokes and concise composition ... He has been passionate about establishing a characteristic artistic universe that is distinct from the more realistic traditional paintings.”

By Rumy Doo (bigbird@heraldcorp.com)