Every artists have different ways of expression and the results, but all go through the similar journey of completing their artistic languages though exploration and contemplation.

Drawing is complete in itself but also could be understood as a way to brainstorm and organize the artist’s inner thoughts. Showing the artist’s world; every brushstroke contains artist’s insight about life and the exploration on the subject interested.

38 artworks of the fifteen renown Korean and international atists’ works are gathered to complete the exhibition: ‘A Brushstroke (一劃, A Brushstroke)’. Through ‘A Brushstroke’, constantly changing artists of this generation and their mindset can be witnessed.

‘A Brushstroke’ that Contains Principle of All Nature
The exhibition title, ‘A Brushstroke’ came from Ilhwaron(一劃論)〉 in the book: 《Gogwahwasanghwa-a-rok(苦瓜和尙畵語錄)》by Seokdo(石濤): artist and art critique of early Qing Dynasty(靑初). Seokdo(石濤) states, in understanding the inner meanings of the book, a piece of artwork completes itself at heart, arms move around commanding the brush, and the brush enables the ink to draw shapes of all nature. In particular, he emphasizes the meaning and the importance of ‘a brushstroke’in Ilhwaekron(一劃論): the first paragraph of 〈Ilhwaron(一劃論)〉.

Seokdo(石濤) states: ‘a brushstroke’ is the beginning of an artwork and if one recognizes that fact, one will realize the principle of art. In other words, when the artist embodies every brushstroke with intended meanings, the artwork will be complete.

No rule existed in time immemorial,
Simplehearted pure had not been broken,
When the pure broke, a law was built.

Where does the law come from?
That comes from one brushstroke.
Which is a spring of existence, a root of reflection,
Which reveals itself to God but hides from man;
Knowing the man on the ground is hard,
One has to build the law of one brushstroke for oneself.

The one who builds the law of one brushstroke
will make a law from lawlessness,
will penetrate every law through the law.

-Seokdo, Philosophy of A Brushstroke

From the past, artists’ desire to complete their original ideas existed. In that, the goal of the artist and the mutual response between the current generation and the artist has to make an appearance. Also human being’s essential desire to move forward from any direction has to be satisfied. ‘A brushstroke’ that configurates an artwork has to grasp the non-changing soul of the artist.

Process of Practice, Life Path, and the Spirit:
‘A Brushstroke’
In order to create a ‘good’ artwork, artist has to clearly contemplate and organizes his objective and thoughts. In the process of exploring various techniques, the artist completes his own artistic language. The artworks in this exhibition are complete in themselves and also come through as the base of the artists’ works. They are a form of practice that test the artists’ techniques and their emotional memos. Honest trace of life is expressed through infinite practice and exploration. Therefore, in the drawings and paintings of the artists, the emotional values are embedded. Every brushstroke counts to create the completed artwork and in that the effort, contemplation, passion, and the artist’s life exists and delivers memorable energy.

Chusa KIM Jeonghee(秋史 金正喜) speaks of a state of mind that create ‘real’ art and writing through abundance of knowledge gained by having about 10,000 books at heart. ‘Real’ art and writing are made not by simple techniques of hand but by the dignity of the mind. Having such dignity embeds the soul of the artist in the artworks and the writings. This was true for many artists of the past including Chusa. Art is a deep contemplation and practice of the mind and the insight of the artist’s knowledge and life.

Artist’s Sprit in One Movement: ‘A Brushstroke’
Every brushstroke of the artist, who understands the importance and the value of ‘a brushstroke’, holds the dignity of the infinite practice and the bold spirit of the artist which is not influenced by the trend of the day. Such artist, completes ‘a brushstroke’ with everything he has to offer and gives a life to the artwork. As Seokdo(石濤) states, the completed and perfected personal artistic grammar contains the spirit of the artist and is proven through the unchanging value of ‘a brushstroke’.

Participating Artists:
Antony Gormley, KIM Taiho, KIM Hodeuk, LIU Xiaodong, SUH Yongsun, Richard Serra, YOU Hyeonkyeong, YOON Hyanglan, LEE UFan, CHUNG Sanghwa, CHUNG Hyun, Anish Kapoor, Giuseppe Penone, Sam Francis, and Simon Hantai