Oh Seung Woo (b. 1930) received his bachelor’s degree from the Department of Korean Language and Literature, and then from the Department of Art at Chosun University in 1957. Oh received his honorary doctorate of philosophy from Wonkwang University in 2000. Since his first solo exhibition in 1961 at the YMCA Gallery, Gwangju, Oh has held a number of solo exhibitions including: the Yangji Tea House in Gwangju in 1962; the Press Center, Seoul in 1965; Invitational Exhibition of Africana Art & Culture at SUN Gallery in 1982; “Korea’s 100 Mountains” at Seoul Art Center in 1995; Invitational Exhibition of “Original Forms of the East” at the National Academy of Art of the Republic of Korea in 2001; and “Paintings of Ten Symbols of Longevity” at Seoul Art Center in 2008. Oh participated in numerous group exhibitions including: “’84 Contemporary Art Invitational Exhibition” at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea, currently MMCA, in 1984; “Exhibition of the Past and Present of Korean Contemporary Art” at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea, currently MMCA, in 1986; and “Chinese and Korean Contemporary Art” at He Xiangning Art Museum, Shenzhen in 2005. Oh was the recipient of the Special Selection Award of the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th National Art Exhibition of the Republic of Korea consecutively from 1957 to 1960. He also won the Seoul Culture Award (1990), Jade Crown Order of Cultural Merit (1992), National Academy of Art of the Republic of Korea Award (1995), Korean Culture and Art Award (1998), 5.16 National Award (2006), and Silver Crown Cultural Order of Merit
(2011). Oh was elected as a member of the National Academy of Art of the Republic of Korea.
Oh Seung Woo focuses on a single theme for a certain period of time. During the 1980s, he painted the mountains: he conquered as many as 100 mountains ranging from Mt. Dobong which is relatively easy to climb to Mt. Jiri, Mt. Halla, and Mt. Baekdu, drawing aspects of the mountains that were revealed to him. In the 1990s, Oh painted cultural heritage sites throughout Asia under the topic, “Original Forms of the East.” As was during his mountain drawing phase, when he traveled around Korea, Oh visited 13 Asian countries including China, Thailand, and Mongolia, sketching the heritage sites on the spot. He explored the spiritual roots of Asia through temples, mountains, and heritage sites, and created works based on the direct inspiration he felt at each place. Thus, Oh’s works are portrayed through thick brushstrokes rather than detailed lines and depictions, and focuses on conveying the essence and spirit of the subject rather than explaining the themes in detail. This style of work has brought Oh the reputation of being “fauvist.” Into the 2000s, he focused on the theme of the “Ten Symbols of Longevity.”
