Scroll Paintings Recreate Han River Scenery

There is no doubt the Han River is a source of pride for the Korean people. The majestic watercourse flows 514 kilometers from Mt. Odae in Kangwon Province all the way to Kimpo before finally flowing into the Yellow Sea.

The 88-year-old artist Kim Hak-su known as ``Hechon'' has devoted nearly half his life to capturing the beautiful natural scenery surrounding the Han River in traditional paintings.

Kim’s ``Han River, 1,300-ri'' painting is composed of 26 scrolls, whose entire length is approximately 350 meters.

The scrolls are currently being displayed for the first time at the New Hall 1 and 2 of the Sejong Center Museum of Fine Art. The exhibition runs through Oct. 8.

While the scrolls are not fully shown because of space constraints, Kim’s work is still impressive in its size, careful detail and delicate colors.

Kim is a respected traditional artist who was born in Pyongyang but left his family after evacuating to South Korea during the Korean War.

“Han River, 1,300-ri” by Kim Hak-su

He started his Han River series of long-scroll paintings when he was trying to capture the scenery of Tanyang-gun, Yoju and Yangpyong. He realized he wanted to draw the source of the Han River, and its surroundings.

Kim traveled around the country, starting from the Han River’s source at Mt. Odae, down through Chongson and Yongweol in Kangwon province, Tanyang in North Chungchong Province, Seoul and Kimpo.

Kim made careful sketches of the scenery, and transferred the sketches onto a scroll when he returned to his workshop. After 36 years, he finally finished the 26 scroll paintings this year.

The results are masterful traditional paintings of the Han River and its background as it snakes through the Korean countryside. Kim is meticulous in detailing nature and its changing colors as the seasons go from spring to summer to autumn to winter. Spring is depicted in delicate pink, green and yellow colors, while the fall is predominantly white and gray.

Lee Gu-yeol of the Institute of Modern Korean Paintings said the paintings inspire awe because of the beautiful scenery and historic sites around the Han River.

‘ ‘The pictorial and artistic result and sensation of the masterpiece known as ‘Han River 1,300-ri’ drawn by Hechon completed over 36 long years on a scroll 350 meters in length cannot be expressed fully in words. It is absolutely wonderful. I don’t know whether there is any other case of a painting or a drawing hundreds of meters in length in any other age or country,’’ Lee said, in the exhibition introduction.

While there was a previous painting of scenic spots along the Han River by Jiugae Jeong Su-yeong completed during the reign of King Yongjo in 1796, Lee said Kim’s paintings are on a much larger scale.

``Kim is producing exceptional and remarkable achievements, devoting all his passion to the paintings he wanted to produce after coming to South Korea, based entirely on his heart and spiritual tenacity,'' Lee said.

Han River 1,300-ri When: Through Oct. 8 Where: New Hall 1 & 2, Sejong Center Museum of Fine Art, near Kwanghwamun station subway line 5 How much: 3,000 won Info: (02) 399-1151-5 or visit www.sejongpac.or.kr