Language
Plum Blossom Vase Illustration
Dasan Jeong Yakyong
Welcome to these intimate works by Dasan Jeong Yak-yong, one of Korea's greatest scholars, created during his eighteen years of exile in Gangjin.
Look at this remarkable painting—plum blossoms on fabric from an old skirt. This wasn't expensive silk or paper. Dasan's wife sent him this worn cloth, and he transformed it into art for his daughter who traveled here to visit him.
Why plum blossoms? They bloom in harsh winter cold, representing endurance and dignity. Through these simple flowers, Dasan expressed his love and hope while separated from family.
Now see his handwritten letters beside the painting. These aren't just messages—they're conversations with students and friends, filled with wisdom and longing. Notice his calm, steady brushstrokes. No fancy decoration, just honest thoughts flowing from brush to paper.
For Dasan, art wasn't separate from life. In this remote place, cut off from the capital, he created a new kind of civilization—one based on nature, family love, and quiet contemplation.
This exhibition asks: "What are the neighbors of civilization?" Dasan's answer was clear: trees, flowers, family bonds, and the simple act of putting brush to paper with sincerity.
These faded works on humble materials speak more powerfully than any grand monument. They ask us: What really matters in life? What would you create if everything else was taken away?
Look at this remarkable painting—plum blossoms on fabric from an old skirt. This wasn't expensive silk or paper. Dasan's wife sent him this worn cloth, and he transformed it into art for his daughter who traveled here to visit him.
Why plum blossoms? They bloom in harsh winter cold, representing endurance and dignity. Through these simple flowers, Dasan expressed his love and hope while separated from family.
Now see his handwritten letters beside the painting. These aren't just messages—they're conversations with students and friends, filled with wisdom and longing. Notice his calm, steady brushstrokes. No fancy decoration, just honest thoughts flowing from brush to paper.
For Dasan, art wasn't separate from life. In this remote place, cut off from the capital, he created a new kind of civilization—one based on nature, family love, and quiet contemplation.
This exhibition asks: "What are the neighbors of civilization?" Dasan's answer was clear: trees, flowers, family bonds, and the simple act of putting brush to paper with sincerity.
These faded works on humble materials speak more powerfully than any grand monument. They ask us: What really matters in life? What would you create if everything else was taken away?