Se Ok Suh reinterprets traditional oriental painting by intentionally manipulating the concentration of ink. He is noted for his famous People series, which revolutionized traditional Korean ink painting. Se Ok Suh started working from the late 1940s, and by the end of the 1970s, his work focused on the theme of ‘people’ and subsequently committed himself to illustrate human nature.

People, the artist’s most celebrated series, is composed of simple lines that represent people, and his ingenious manipulation of ink and configuration of space attest to his innovative oeuvre. The artist rhythmically paints segmented and connected lines, confirming spontaneous painting as opposed to creating a carefully c...