Zoom into Lee Ungno's 'Composition (1968)'

Composition (1968) by Lee UngnoLee Ungno Museum

Korean mark : At the Daejeon Correctional Institution. November 1968.

Made in prison, the painting is extremely abstract and two-dimensional...

Composition (1968) by Lee UngnoLee Ungno Museum

...but the ink forms of this painting seem to originate in his Abstract Letter works.

Red...

Composition (1968) by Lee UngnoLee Ungno Museum

... yellow...

...and blue are applied all over the canvas as greatly softened tones...

Composition (1968) by Lee UngnoLee Ungno Museum

...over which thin ink strokes are scattered.

The strokes do not construct any specific form, but are drawn like letters.

Composition (1968) by Lee UngnoLee Ungno Museum

While other Abstract Letter paintings show thick letter-like forms, this painting seems to contain complicated stories written in small letters, like an inscription on a gravestone.

Credits: All media
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