Hakgojae Shanghai is honored to show The Layers of Memory, Oh Se-Yeol’s first solo exhibition in mainland China on August 27 through October 23, 2016.

Backgrounds of Oh's works are monochromatic, filled with one color, or sometimes split into two. They are extremely monotonous, and yet covered with symbols- such as numbers, lines and figures- of abundant implications.

The painter has his unique way of creation. First, he creates the background by completely draining the oils from the paint before painting. Then, lines and numbers are presented on canvas or wooden panel with layers of pigment by collage and scratch. His paintings, as if bearing a strata accumulated over the ages, create illusionary atmosphere with a light tone. The matiere of artworks and figures on its surface may evoke people’s emotional experience and memory, and reveal the sentiment against the Western tradition of oil painting in Korean contemporary history.

Born in 1945, Korea, Oh Se-Yeol received Master Degree from College of Arts in Chung-Ang University. He held numerous solo exhibitions in Paris, London, Seoul, Taipei and Brussels. His artworks are collected by National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, Daejeon Museum of Art, Samsung Museum of Art and Frederick Wiseman Collection.