A Collateral Event of the 60th International Art Exhibition, A journey to the Infinite: Yoo Youngkuk curated by Kim Inhye, is essentially based on works created by the artist in the 1960s and 1970s. During this period, Yoo (1916, Uljin – 2002, Seoul) was finally able to devote himself exclusively to painting after the difficult years of World War II and the Korean War, which had forced him to interrupt his artistic activities. Isolating himself in his studio, the artist gave voice to the profound and sublime connection he had always felt with the natural landscapes of his hometown Uljin, particularly with the ever-changing mountains that he continued to explore as if on an endless journey.

The exhibition’s layout is inspired by a mountain, unfolding across three levels: from the ground floor, particularly in the Scarpa Area in direct contact with the adjacent magnificent Japanese garden, where the artist’s prints and lithographic works are displayed; to the first floor in the library reading room, offering a “pause for reflection” with a presentation of Youngkuk’s life through a rich archive that includes films and photographs, as well as his experiments beyond painting; culminating on the third floor in a white cube atmosphere, where about thirty paintings created in the 1960s and 1970s are exhibited.

During this two-decade period, his art evolved progressively from more organic and simplified forms to more geometric shapes, and from naturalistic tones to intermediate hues that transcend the contrasts of primary colors. This evolution witnesses his masterful integration of Korean art with modern Western artistic movements such as Surrealism and Constructivism. However, what stands out in his art, and what the exhibition highlights, is the intimate and unique relationship Yoo had with the ever-changing nature surrounding him. This connection draws the visitor into a vortex of dazzling colors and astonishing forms, reflecting his artistic and personal journey towards infinity.