This book celebrates the life and works of Lee Qoede (1913–1965), who focused on art’s social purpose and representation of civilians. He believed “art must be an integral part of the struggle in reality. It cannot simply be a still-life of apples, flowers, or scenery.” Born in South Korea, he was a prisoner of war, defected to North Korea, was politically purged, and died at fifty-two. His works were banned in South Korea until 1988.
This monograph explores Lee Qoede’s art within the context of Cold War politics and international leftist exchanges, including his experiences of civilian massacres, prisoner-of-war camps, and his defection to North Korea. It examines social realism, socialist realism, and Mexican mural influences on Lee’s oeuvre, reevaluating his place in South Korean art history. Highlighting the global impact of Lee’s work, the book integrates insights from international artists and movements, challenging Eurocentric modernism and offering a comprehensive understanding of his artistic journey.
- List of Illustrations
- Acknowledgments
- List of Abbreviations
- Historical Timeline
- Notes on Language
- Introduction
- 1. Unraveling Lee Qoede’s Journey: Korean Political Violence and Defection
- Dawn of the Cold War (1945-1950)
- The Dokdo Island Bombing (1948)
- The Jeju Massacre (1948)
- The Yeosu-Suncheon Mutiny (1948)
- The National Guidance League Massacre (1950)
- Caught in Turmoil: Exile
- Estrangement
- 2. Rethinking Lee Qoede: New Perspectives
- Lee Yeoseong: An Ideological and Artistic Lodestar
- Kitagawa Tamiji: An Intermediator
- Diego Rivera: Mural Mastermind
- 3. Empowering the Masses: Lee Qoede’s Art for the People
- Interwoven Inspirations: Mexican Muralism’s Impact on Lee Qoede
- Sociopolitical and Artistic Echoes: American Social Realism
- Artistic Crossroads: The Resonance of Social Realism in Japan
- 4. Witnessing History Through Art: Visual Narratives of Atrocities
- Photographic Truth
- Reading Against the Title
- Politically Decoding Lee Qoede’s People Series
- Francisco Goya’s Visual Documentation Before Photography
- Pablo Picasso’s Cultural Representation of Atrocities
- Arshile Gorky’s Unveiling of Truths Through Absence
- 5. The Art of the Mural
- From Mexico to North Korea: Rina Lazo’s Journey of Solidarity
- Rethinking Lee’s People Series as Portable Murals
- Creating a Real Mural
- Epilogue
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- List of Publications by Lee Qoede
- List of Publications by Lee Yeoseong
- Index
Text
Audio
Adobe DRM
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