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