Tragic Life of a lady painter Na Hyea Seok and Inn Soo Deok

in culture •  7 years ago 

20171024

At the weekend I had visited one of the most famous temple in Korea.
Buddhism in Korea is unique in the way of cultivating in mind.
There are many ways in Zen.
I heard that there is very specific way of doing Zen.
The way of korean style of doing Zen was originated from this temple Soo Deok Sa temple which is located in Choongcheong Namdo.

I’d like to visit this temple for long time ago.
But what attracted me most was not a history of temple but a story of a tragic life of a female painter who had stayed in the inn near the temple.

She was Na Hyea Seok.

It was early 20 century when she had lived her life actively.
It was rare for women to study abroad at that time, because Korea was very conservative and closed society.
Education for women was accepted worthless.

But she’d been sent to Japan and had studied in Painting in Tokyo for several years.
So it is believed she was the first women western style painter in Korea.

After returning to home, she got married and painted actively.
But the society in korea at that time was too closed for women.
So she want more freedom for women.
She refused to be confined in any barriers including marriage.

She had an affair with very famous gentleman in Paris. But he was married.

Her behavior was unforgivable at that time in Korea, especially as a married woman.

So she was ousted from family and lost every thing she had.

Finally she made up her mind to be a nun in Soo Deok Sa.
She had stayed in small inn for 3 years to be a nun.
But the chief of the priest didn’t permit her enter into the temple.
No body knows the reason why.

Anyway in this small and humble inn she had prayed for 3 years to be accepted as a nun.

When I visited there, there was not a trace of Na Hyea Seok.

All I could see was an another story of a painter Lee Weong Joon who was a victim of political intrigue. He was also very famous painter who had painted in France. One day he was arrested by secret police of Korea for the suspicion of spying for North Korea.

He just met his son who was dismissed during Korean War, his son was living in North Korea at that time. So secret police arrested him.

Finally he was set free with the help of French government.
Before leaving Korea, he had lived in this inn.

Anyway Inn Soo Deok had sad stories.

It was so sorry there was not an explanation about Na Hyea Seok.
Her last was miserable.
It was told that she could not eat properly and fall down in the street.
Finally she died as a charity patient.
There was nobody with her when she died.
She was very talented, she was not only a painter but also a writer.
She wrote several novels and essays.
But Korean Society couldn't embrace her talent and free spirit.

Her photo and works

Screenshot_20171024-203810.jpg

스크린샷 2017-10-24 오후 9.42.35.png

Photos of Inn Soo Deck

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a sad story today about the painter, Na Hyea Seok.

Artists often are counter-culture and their rebellion stems from their unique view of life, but if they alienate their family and are rejected by their society it doesn't end well for them.

Such was the case of Na Hyea Seok.

Ironically, even her decision to become a nun at Soo Deok Sa simply resulted in further isolating her.

She probably wasn't allowed to enter the temple because of her scandalous life.

I agree with you, @slowwalker, her life was tragic and her death deplorable but it's a cautionary tale about walking that thin line between being avant-garde and innovative and rebellious and defiant.

Thank you for your interpretation
Always you make me surprise

Being an artist who is alienated from family and society, this sorry just hits home for me. No one, not your family not society likes to accept the differences buried inside of an artist's mind. No one wants admit it, but us artists are pretty out there in terms of cognitive thinking. We just have a different outlook on the world than everyone and naturally other humans may see it as odd or silly, or they may surprisingly enjoy it, though it's rare. It's so sad to know how her life ends. Life is just so bizarre.

gud eve

Kindly follow me ill follow you
https://steemit.com/@abhi1

Heard about her few times...
She could help us these days
Rip

Really very bad happen to the Na Hyea Seok...Even she was very much talented ,no one in korea is appreciating her great painting work.she suffered with lots of pain in her life..but very sad happened in her last time of life,she did not able to eat properly and died in a miserable condition..and even she became nun why priest refused her to enter in the temple..but there are lots of example like Na Hyea Seok my friend @slowwalker..It was very sad ending..

Very sad life history of this woman. It seems in many countries woman are not allowed so much of freedom.. she was an allrounder yet she did not get the recognition that she deserved .

I think her father also wasn't a ordinary person at that time. It seems to be a difficult and touch decision to send his daughter to abroad. I suddenly wonder whether she had regretted or satisfied not about her life when she died as a charity patient.

what do you think about that if you were Na Hyea Seok

A lot of strong female artists and workers have a history of being shunned. If only she was accepted, the world could've seen so much more of her. This is just so disheartening.

In history we find many cases of misunderstood geniuses who die poor and alone.
The geniuses are ahead of the thoughts of their contemporaries and that is not always well successful by the society of each epoch.

Sir I had upvote yOu.
Your post r very interesting and helpful.

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Hi, truly interesting and yet very sad story that you're telling us today. I love how knowledgeable this community is and how much I can learn just by randomly clicking on articles.

I am posting a lot about art in general, museums and expositions happening in France on my blog. You should check it out and let me know what you think about it !

I'll see you around, and thank you for your work.

nice

painting is a form of poetry and expresses everything

Great post @slowwalker. Thanks

I had upvote you.
Your post r very good and show a good effort. So I appreciate your working. It may inspaire many other. Like it inspires me.I also have blog regarding fun elements, can you plz do a visit to my post. And upvote them which u like and if u like the content then plz do follow me friend. Actually I need your support .

Good story! Sad about this time.

A vey sad story , I was literally in tears . Very Good Writing !
Looking forward for your Future posts !

Very sad life history @@ thankyou slwwalker

Great history thnx for share

Thanks for the touching story. Very informative and narrative.

Very sad. Glad to learn more about her. Anyone know who she painted in the portrait?

Really history tourism stays generation after generation. Imagine If not tourism this place will still not exist.

Wow... very sad Thanks for sharing you have my vote & resteem

Very good picture I will always wait for your post, thank you for sharing. If there is time to visit my blog. Thank you @slowwalker

Great.. Wish to comment on my painting ?

https://steemit.com/picture/@suria1903/the-lone-mountain

Things have not changed for women artist living in poor and closed societies. Women go to art school and immediately they get married or are forced to do something else besides art.

  ·  7 years ago (edited)

when I died and no one helped, really really pity the person's life, I am waiting for the next story from you @slowwalker

This one is really a sad story my friend! It's weird that we don't have any remembrance or trace of her.
This is very sad.

Sigh. Sad life of a starving artist.

Another fascinating But sad tale about an outstanding woman. I love your stories and learn so much from them.

Another fascinating But sad tale about an outstanding woman. I love your stories and learn so much from them.

Congratulations @slowwalker!
Your post was mentioned in the hit parade in the following category:

  • Pending payout - Ranked 10 with $ 136,4

Very sad. Thanks for sharing @slowwalker

a great woman and a great writer , respect her very much !

:)

A very interesting and sad tale. Artists very often have a higher cause and Na Hyea Seock was obviously one of them. I must look up to see if any of her art is still around in some gallery. One wonders what was more important to her, her art or the following of her other more policital ambitions. Whatever way you look at it, she had a sad end and it would be good to see what sort of painting she produced. As she had studied in Japan it could be even more interesting, especially as she was apparently considered a modern artist. Thank you for this post.

thank you for your comment

Thanks for sharing this story! Great post!

Very sad story, and that's Life,the society plays a vital role on every individuals, when you ain't accepted by the society or people rebellious about you, you tends to look down on your self so afraid releasing your full potentials

Nice story

Na Hyea Seok will probably live on through her paintings. I find it intriguing that so many really talented artists come to a tragic ending, whether they are singers, poets, painters or authors.

Upvoted and followed.

I could somehow relate at her.

It is very interesting and sad story. I like sad stories. I can feel your emotions my lovely friend. Your project is too good.

It is very interesting and sad story. I like sad stories. I can feel your emotions my lovely friend. Your project is too good.

I always wonder. Why would people read this stuff here ? And not on wordpress or somewhere else ?

Thank you so much for sharing this moving story. We need to conserve the heritage of such valuable people. Unfortunately women are often on the verge of being forgotten. Above all in art.

I just started following you and hope to read more of this kind of content!

Best
Elena

thank you for sharing