Person 1996

Se-Ok Suh, born in 1929, created this artwork, titled 'Person,' employing the traditional medium of ink on paper. Suh's work emerges from a period marked by immense upheaval and transformation in Korean history. His art reflects the quest for identity amidst the Korean War and subsequent division, and the rapid modernization that followed. The artist’s abstract figures embody a collective identity, hinting at the shared experiences of displacement and resilience. Suh once said, "I paint people, but not as individuals; they represent the masses, history." These figures, rendered in stark ink, capture the tensions between tradition and modernity, individuality and collectivity. The choice of ink speaks to a deep connection to Korean artistic heritage, yet the abstract representation signals a departure from conventional forms. This work serves as a poignant reflection on the human condition, mirroring historical events, and echoing individual and shared identity.