Banana trees, 1975, ink and pencil on paper

Musée Cernuschi is one of the « hidden » treasures of Paris. Hidden in the Parc Monceau, in a private house bought by Enrico (Henri) Cernuschi, a fabulous Italian collector of Asian art, who became French during the Commune of 1870. And the new exhibition of Korean artist Lee Ungno is the result of he artist’s bequest of most of his works to the museum after his death in 1989. Eighty two works from calligraphy to paintings and sculptures show how influenced the artist was by Western art and yet always remained himself. It is excellent.

Water, 1973, Ink and colors on paper

Influenced by the ever changing politicial situation in Korea, Lee Ungno moved to Paris in 1959 and met Hans Hartung, Soulages, Foujita and Zao Wou Ki. He decided to settle in Paris and founded the Académie de peinture orientale in 1964. He used to bring his students to Musée Cernuschi every week. The show is a great lesson in the art of paper and ink in painting. The subtlety of the use of paper creases and his mastering of ink are impressive.

Composition, ink an doctor on paper, 1960

Lee studied in Japan in 1937 when Korea was under Japanese ruling and returned home in 1945 after the country was freed. He then switched to colour painting and tried to depict the political uprisings before including  Western abstract painting in his works… Made a prisoner for two and a half years for « spying » while visiting  Korea  in 1967, he was liberated and settled in Paris for good. He became a French citizen in 1983.

Bambous, 1969, ink on paper

Besides his painting activities, he worked for the Mobilier National where he deisgned tapestries, and for Sèvres and Baccarat. In the 1980’s, he started painting crowds in black ink following the Gwanju insurrections in central Korea. A museum in his name was opened in 1987 in Daejeon. (Until November 19, Musée Cernuschi, 7 avenue Velazquez, Paris 17 )