But Lee’s vanita is not the meaninglessness of life realized at the moment of death, but the sense of emptiness, nothingness coming from the failure to communicate. Human beings have the innate desire to seek intimacy with others, and communication is the most important element that fulfills this need.

이석주 작가의 바니타스는 죽음을 눈앞에 둔 인생무상이 아니라 소통의 부재에서 오는 공허감, 허무감이다. 인간은 본능적으로 타자와의 친밀욕구를 갖고 있으며 소통은 이 욕구를 충족시키는 가장 주요한 요인이다.

Absence of communication leads to feelings of imbalance such as inter-personal conflicts, confrontations and sense of deprivation, escalating into feelings of solitu De, isolation and emptiness. Feelings of isolation and emptiness drive one to lose his sense of independent self and to seek a place only for himself, a hiding place.

소통의 부재는 타자와의 갈등, 대립, 결핍 등의 불균형한 감정을 갖게 하면서 고독, 소외, 공허감으로 진행된다. 소외감, 공허감 등은 자아로 하여금 주체의식을 소멸시키면서 혼자만의 공간, 은둔처를 찾게 만든다.

Unlike the Dutch vanita paintings that progress to death, Lee’s sense of emptiness drives him into absence. Death and absence are similar in that the physical form disappears, but absence also has the possibility of the physical existence reappearing any time. When will Lee’s absence be replaced by visible existence? That will take some time…Lee Seok-Ju’s vanitas has suspended time.

이석주(李石柱)화백의 공허함은 죽음으로 진행되는 네덜란드 바니타스 정물화와 달리 부재로 도망치게 한다. 죽음과 부재는 물질적 외형의 사라짐에 있어서는 공통점을 갖지만 부재는 언제든지 물질적 존재로 다시 가시화될 수 있는 가능성을 내포하고 있다. 서양화가 이석주의 부재는 언제쯤 가시적 존재로 교환될 수 있을까? 그러기위해선 시간이 조금은 흘러야 될 텐데…. 서양화가 이석주의 바니타스는 시간을 멈추게 했다.

◇Lee Suk-Ju

1952 Born in Seoul

1981 B.F.A College of Fine Art Hong-Ik University

1976 M.F.A Graduated School of Hong-Ik University

Present Professor, College of Fine Art, Sook-Myung University

△Solo Exhibitions

2015 Kim Jae Sun Gallery(busan)

2012 Rho Gallery(seoul)

2010 Sungallery(seoul)

2006 Kim Jae Sun Gallery(busan)

2005 Galerie Bhak, Seoul

2001 Sung Kok Art Museum, Seoul

Sun Gallery, Seoul

1998 Sun Gallery, Seoul

1993 Sun Gallery, Seoul

1991 Dong Soong Gallery, Seoul

1987 Fine Art Center, Seoul

1984 Growrich Gallery, Seoul

1981 Damura Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

△Group Exhibition

Korean painting now(National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts)

Selection Art Fair Basel 2012(Basel, Switzland)

Asia international art exhibition(Asia)

Room of meditation(OCI museum of art)

Walking in the farm(Interalia gallery)

KIAF(COEX)

China Shanghai international Art Festival(Shanhai, China)

Existence and illusion(Gwangju Art Museum)

Korea Art 2001-the Reinstatement of Painting(National Museum of Contemporary Art)

Illusion and Reality-Hyperrealism Painting in Korea(Samsung Museum of Modern Art) ect.

△Collection

National Museum of Contemporary Art

Seoul City Museum

Fukuoka City Museum

Sung Gok Museum

Daeyu Foundation of Culture

Hoam Art Museum

Daejeon Museum of Art ect.

△Awarded

1991 The 8th Sun Art Award

1983-84 The 2nd, 3rd Korea Art Exhibition(Special Selection)

1983 The 2nd, Asia Art Biennale (Gold Prize)

1981 The 30th Korea National Art Exhibition(Special Selection)

1978-80 The Jungang Art Grand Prix Exhibition

1st,, 2nd (Special Selection), 3rd (Prix of Encouragement)/Held by Jung Ang Press Group