Good condition.
Signed at lower center.

There is some faint staining on the edges of the mat due to its age.

Born in Korea, Quac Insik (1919-1988) moved to Japan in 1937 to enroll in the Japan Art School. Due to concerns over the Pacific War, he returned to Korea in 1940, still moved back to Japan in 1949, and settled there permanently. Deeply influenced by his memories of Korea and the materials from childhood memories, Quac focused on the contrast between natural and artificial elements. He began creating pioneering works that used objects such as glass, brass, and paper, questioning the essence of material and matter. His activities significantly impacted the Mono-ha movement, and he became known as a mentor to Lee Ufan. Quac was also actively involved in the unification and democratization movements of his homeland. In 1961, he organized a joint exhibition featuring artists from the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (affiliated with North Korea) and the Federation of Korean Associations (affiliated with South Korea), focusing on ethnic reconciliation. Major retrospectives of his work were held at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Korea in 1985 and 2019.

This work, bringing tranquility and beauty, is one of the pieces from a series created in 1979. Using paper not as a material or sculpture but as a subject, Quac meticulously cut it into a circular shape. The work reflects his intention to "contain" the ideological struggles of the times, such as the conflict and division between the left and right wings. This piece, transforming his Eastern art history and relationship with nature into contemporary art, embodies a timeless quality and a lyrical element.

Gallery Takagi, Nagoya