Nam Kwan (1911-1990)

Nam Kwan was born in Chongsong, Korea. He graduated from Taiheiyo Fine Arts school, Tokyo in 1935 and left for France in 1954. He was an influential figure whose early work is marked by strong figurative pictures. However, in Paris, Nam Kwan established a reputation as an abstract artist. His work of the 1960's is characterised by typically oriental features of special brushwork and the use of space, which often draws on his memories of the war.