SeMA retrospective revisits works of abstract art master Yoo Young-kuk

Known for his bold and vivid yet composed depictions of nature — especially mountains as a portrait of the inner mind — Yoo Young-kuk (1916-2002) is a pioneer of abstract art in Korean art. "Yoo Young-kuk: A Mountain Within Me," is a large-scale retrospective organized by the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), set to begin Tuesday. The exhibition brings together some 170 pieces of his works and historical archives, including photos and drawings, according to the museum. Organized on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of his birth, the exhibit includes previously undisclosed pieces that allow visitors to explore the previously little-revealed parts of life and works of the art master. Rather than displaying his works in chronological order, the exhibition first invites viewers to take in his works from 1964, considered a major turning point in his artistic journey. It then reassembles his life through four other sections that encompass key stages in his life, ranging from his early days of studying art in Tokyo during the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule to his later days when he faithfully