Fireworks II

In this scroll, master Kim juxtaposes a dynamic play of ink strokes that spurt from right to left with an overlay of fastmoving cursive calligraphy. The gradation of ink tonality from dark to light and its culmination in an explosive play of "flying-white" strokes-in which the white or pale-colored paper shows through in places where the rapidly applied ink does not provide coverage-resemble a display of fireworks. The concave curve on the right adds to the kinetic leftward movement.

Sun Wuk Kim learned the art of calligraphy and seal carving beginning in 1964 from master Cheolnong Yi Gi-woo, who carved the seals of two former presidents of Korea. The penname Hanong, which means "Cultivator of the Lotus," was bestowed upon Kim by his master. He has explored new calligraphic territory by interweaving the historic repertoires of Chinese and Korean scripts with the aesthetics of the modern era. Kim founded the Art of Ink in America in 1994, and has had exhibitions in the U.S. Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.