▲ Seogak Artist Noh Jae-young

Seogak (carving letters and images on wood) is a valuable cultural asset of Korea that has been practiced hundreds of years. For example, totem poles standing entrance of villages are included in the form of seogak in broad terms. 

Noh is a seogak artist based in Yangpyeong and Heongseong and has spread the beauty of seogak art through proactive engagement and communication. She has a keen eye and a unique power of imagination that are well melted in her works and she was listed in the Korea Traditional Master-hand 2017 in recognition of her contributions to the field. 

It was when she visited the National Folk Museum of Korea and got inspired by a royal hunting painting that she started carving the imprinted image of the scene onto wood; that was 20 years ago. 

“I bought a number of carving knives and started carving various shapes from a vase to a person alongside the hunting scene. Visitors to my house saw my works and they took them one by one to give to others as a gift. It was really encouraging and I became convinced about my talent” looks back Noh.

She focused on enlivening the vitality of wood and its roughness to differentiate her style. Her passion in seogak grew and deepened as time went by thanks to her older sister and husband; the former has taken Noh to many sculpture exhibitions home and abroad and the latter provided unsparing support. 

Also, she was under huge indebtedness to Yoo Taek-gun of the Korea Yoo Arts Association, Park Sang-geun of the Korea Traditional Culture and Arts Association, Lee Jae-pil aka Masaem and many other leaders of the art circles. 

“Meeting people is as good as creating art works in terms of sharing each other’s positive energy. Things happen when a person meets a person or people and this of human bondage can sometimes give unparalleled happiness.”

“Vitality is the most important element in my works. Whether it is a tiger or a bird, I want to give it a feeling as if they are alive and moving. Catching the flow of wood grain also is important to keep the natural feeling of the wood as nature as it could be.”

A good example is ‘Ascension’ picturing two red dragons colliding which received as lively as if they are alive. But we must note that the result of this vividness has not come easily but months of research and study. 

“Art should be a life and the life itself is art” believes Noh for art works in the exhibition halls often lose their vitality but in our daily lives. 

She has demonstrated this belief in many exhibitions and put her name in the Korea Traditional Master-hand 2017 as a traditional wooden seogak master last year. She also is serving as the head of seogak division of the Korean Fine Arts Association Traditional Arts and Crafts Department. 

“Many artists and artisans are having financial difficulty. But what makes them carryon on their passion nevertheless is that they find a reward when their works are appreciated and recognized by both fellow artists and the public. So I will keep exerting to create more opportunities of display through active engagement.”

▲ 승천 (170x80cm)