Austrian Artist Shows Love of Korea’s Nature

A famous Austrian artist, Franz Brandner’s exhibition gets underway in Seoul on May 9 (Monday), 2016. A total of 17 works of art are on display at the J Gallery in Cheil Orthopedic Hospital in Seoul’s upscale Cheongdam-dong. The Austrian oilpainter’s exhibition runs till May 22 (Sunday), 2016.

For this exhibition Brandner depicted Korean scenery particularly flowers and trees in the way of German Expressionism. Three of his works on show are sunflowers.

“Through this exhibition I want to express Korean landscape through the eyes of the Western artist,” Brandner says. “Unlike natures in Austria and Italy Korean tree and rock are uniquely beautiful to me.”

A frequent visitor to Korea when he was a young lad, now Brandner lives in Seoul’s Gwanjang-dong with his family.

“I go visit Mt. Acha (Achasan) very often I am inspired by the twisted trees and rugged rocks on Mt. Acha,” Brandner explains.

“When I came to Seoul in 1989 I was was fascinated by warm heart of Korean people and spicy taste of kimchi zzigae (stew),” he says. “I instantly fell in love with Korea.”

In 2002 Brandner moved from Austria to Seoul with his whole family. He has five children with his Malaysian wife.