Epitaph 1962

Editor: This is "Epitaph," an ink drawing done in 1962 by Se-Ok Suh. The scattering of shapes on this pale surface... it feels a bit lonely, almost like fading memories. What do you see in it? Curator: Lonely, yes, that's a lovely entry point! For me, these scattered forms, these disciplined ink blots, whisper of echoes, perhaps of a life, a moment, a world even. Do you get the sense they might be characters in an unknown story, maybe? Like ancient calligraphy, but the meaning has evaporated, leaving behind only a trace, a presence... or perhaps, the possibility of a thousand stories, waiting to be written, remembered, or dreamed into being? It's as if the artist handed us the brush and whispered, "Now you." Editor: I do! Now that you mention the "Now you" part, the blots seem unfinished, calling on the viewer to somehow put the pieces together. Curator: Precisely! It rejects concrete narrative, embracing ambiguity. Suh was working during a period of incredible upheaval in Korea, politically and culturally. It makes me wonder if this "Epitaph" isn't just for one thing, but for a whole era fading away, transforming into something new. How fascinating that abstraction can carry so much emotional weight. Editor: That context gives it another layer. I initially saw just simple forms, but I appreciate how history and interpretation blend. Thanks for sharing! Curator: And thank you for lending your fresh perspective! It's a reminder that art only truly lives when it finds a new pair of eyes to meet.