Seoul Arts Center is delighted to present One Step at a Time: Heehwan Seo, a Master of Hangul Calligraphy, an exhibition highlighting the life and art of Pyeongbo Heehwan Seo. Held in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Seo’s passing, this large-scale retrospective provides a comprehensive overview of Seo’s extensive oeuvre, spanning works from his early years to his later life.
Seo, also known by his art name “Pyeongbo [one step at a time],” was a representative Hangul calligrapher of 20th-century Korea. In 1968, his presentation won the Presidential Award at the 17th National Art Exhibition of Korea, marking the first time a work of calligraphy received this particular honor. Until his death at the age of 61 in 1995, Seo devoted his entire life to exploring Hangul’s calligraphic potential. This incomparable artistic achievement cements his status as an indispensable figure in the history of Korean calligraphy.
This exhibition was designed to trace Seo’s journey in achieving the feat of Hangul calligraphy being accepted as an art form. Establishing Hangul calligraphy as an art form — and more importantly, as a calligraphical art — was his lifelong goal, and his perseverance eventually realized this dream. Seo once said, “A turtle in a lake waits a thousand years for its turn to perch atop a lotus leaf,” and his 61-year journey was, indeed, true to his art name, Pyeongbo — one step at a time — in both art and life, advancing step by step without rushing or resting. We hope this exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to deepen their understanding of Seo’s life and art and to keep his memory alive.