First-generation abstract painter Lee Joon dies at 101

Korea’s first generation of abstract painters, Lee Joon, died of old age at 101 on Friday, according to The National Academy of Arts. Born in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province in 1919, Lee went to Japan at the end of the 1930s and graduated in 1942 from the Pacific Art School, a private Western painting school attended by many Korean painters, such as Gu Bon-ung, Lee In-seong and Nam Gwan.

After graduating and returning to Korea, he became a professor at Ewha Womans University between 1954 and 1984, teaching Western painting there.

Lee is considered as one of the pioneers of abstract painting in Korea.

In the 1970s, his works started to include characteristics of geometric paintings, such as various colored shapes and lines. His works not only featured abstract patterns, but also made reference to modern historical events that occurred on the Korean Peninsula, such as the Korean War and the partition of Korea.

Even until recently, he held solo exhibitions throughout the country. He received a presidential award at the National Art Exhibition of 1953 and was also given the third-grade Dongbaeg Medal of the Order of Civil Merit in 1977 for his artistic achievements. He was also awarded the Eun-gwan Order of Cultural Merit, or the second-highest category of cultural merit, in 1995.

Those who wish to pay their respects to Lee can visit Seoul National University Hospital. The funeral runs until Monday morning.