Chronology · Centennial Edition
Byun Shi-Ji — A Century of Wind and Light
1926–2026 · 1926–2013
The Search
도쿄와 서울, 1926–1975
ACT IIThe Return
제주의 재발견, 1975–1990
ACT IIIThe Essence
국제적 인정, 1991–2013
ACT IVThe Legacy
탄생 100주년, 2023–2026
I · 탐색 (The Search)
도쿄와 서울, 1926–19751926
제주도 서귀포에서 출생.
1931
일본으로 이주. 훗날 오사카미술학교에서 수학.
1947
22세에 조선인 최초로 「일전(日展)」에 입선. 일본 화단에 조선인 작가의 존재를 각인.
1948
「광풍회전」에서 역대 최연소로 최고상 수상. 「유려하고 세련된」 고전주의 화풍으로 일본 화단의 신성으로 인정받음.
1949
「광풍회」 심사위원으로 추대. 역대 최연소 심사위원 — 수상자에서 심사자로, 불과 1년 만에 일본 화단의 평가 주체로 올라선 이례적 사례.
1957
서울대학교의 초청으로 귀국. 서울에서 교편을 잡고 그림을 그리며 진정한 「한국적」 예술 정체성을 모색.
II · 귀환 (The Return)
제주의 재발견, 1975–19901975
고향 제주도로 귀향. 「대전환」의 순간. 서울의 화려하고 도시적인 미학을 버림.
1970–80년대
제주의 「거친 진실」과 마주하다. 황토색(마른 풀잎색)과 갈필(渴筆) 기법을 발견.
풍토적 모더니즘의 탄생
「보이지 않는 제주」를 그리기 시작함 — 바람, 고독, 삶의 거친 인고.
1987
서귀포시립 기당미술관 설립. 변시지 상설전시실 개관 — 생전 단일 작가 상설관으로는 한국 최초의 사례.
III · 본질 (The Essence)
국제적 인정, 1991–20131991
국립 제주대학교 정년퇴임. 평생을 제주와 함께한 교육자이자 화가로서의 공식 봉직을 마치고, 창작의 마지막 장(章)에 헌신.
2007–2017
두 점의 대표작이 워싱턴 D.C. 스미소니언 박물관(국립 자연사박물관) 상설전시작으로 10년간 전시 — 「풍토적 모더니즘」이 국제 무대에서 인정받은 역사적 순간.
2013
제주에서 별세. 서귀포시사회장(葬)으로 엄수 — 그의 삶이 한 개인을 넘어 지역 공동체의 문화적 기둥이었음을 증명.
IV · 유산 (The Legacy)
탄생 100주년, 2023–20262023
결정적 기록 — 『변시지 카탈로그 레조네(Catalogue Raisonné)』 발간. 작가의 전 창작 여정을 망라한 이 기념비적 저작은 그의 글로벌 재조명의 학술적 기반을 마련.
2026
바람과 빛의 한 세기. 서귀포시립 기당미술관에서 「탄생 100주년 기념전시」 개최. 10개 언어의 글로벌 디지털 아카이브 공개. 그리고 서귀포시가 생가 인근 주요 도로를 「변시지로(邊時志路)」로 공식 개통 — 그의 예술적 귀향이 도시의 지도에 영구히 각인되는 순간.
Detailed chronology · 36
Detailed chronology
Tokyo & Seoul Era
1926–1957- 1926
Age 1Born as the fourth of 5 sons and 4 daughters in Seohong-dong, Seogwipo, Jeju. Father: Byun Tae-yoon, Mother: Lee Sa-hee - 1931
Age 6Moved to Osaka, Japan - 1932
Age 7Enrolled in Hanazono Elementary School, Osaka - 1933
Age 8Won the Osaka Mayor's Award at the National Children's Art Exhibition - 1940
Age 15Entered the Western Painting Department at Osaka School of Art - 1945
Age 20Moved to Tokyo; enrolled in Athénée Français; became a pupil of Manjiro Terauchi - 1947
Age 22First Korean artist selected for the Nitten (日展) Exhibition, held by the Japanese Ministry of Education. Both <Winter Tree> A and B selected at the 33rd Kofukai Exhibition - 1948
Age 23Awarded Grand Prize at the 34th Kofukai Exhibition — the youngest recipient in its history. Recommended as an official member of the Kofukai - 1949
Age 24Appointed as a judge of the Kofukai — the youngest judge in its history. First solo exhibition at Shiseido Gallery, Tokyo - 1950
Age 25Invited to exhibit at the 3rd Art Association Exhibition hosted by the Mainichi Shimbun. <White House and Black House> viewed by the Emperor of Japan - 1951
Age 26Second solo exhibition at Shiseido Gallery, Tokyo - 1953
Age 28Third solo exhibition at Yoga-ro Gallery and Hankyu Department Store, Osaka - 1957
Age 32November 15: Permanently returned to Seoul. Appointed Professor at Seoul National University College of Fine Arts
Seoul Period
1958–1974- 1958
Age 33Oil painting retrospective at Hwashin Gallery, Seoul - 1960
Age 35Appointed Head of Art Department at Seorabeol College of Arts. Married Lee Haksook - 1966
Age 41Published his book "New Art" - 1967
Age 42Exhibited at the Invitational Exhibition of Active Korean Artists, National Museum of Modern Art - 1968
Age 43Traveled to Japan as the Korean representative to the International Society for Education through Art (InSEA) - 1974
Age 49Founded the Oriental Art Association
Jeju Era
1975–2013- 1975
Age 50Returned to Jeju. Appointed full-time Professor at the Art Education Department, Jeju National University College of Education — the moment of "Great Transition" - 1977
Age 523rd Oriental Art Association Exhibition - 1981
Age 56<Korean Art 1981>, National Museum of Modern Art. Byun Shi-Ji Invitational Exhibition at Astrolabio Gallery, Rome - 1983
Age 5820th solo exhibition (Ink Painting Invitational). <83 Contemporary Art Invitational>, National Museum of Modern Art - 1986
Age 61Published "Artist Byun Shi-Ji" and "Usung Byun Shi-Ji Collection". Received the Jeju Culture Award, National Medal of Honor, and Seogwipo Citizen's Award - 1987
Age 62Founding of the Seogwipo Municipal Gidang Art Museum with a permanent exhibition hall dedicated to Byun Shi-Ji — one of the first cases in Korea of a permanent museum hall devoted to a living artist - 1988
Age 63Published "Byun Shi-Ji Jeju Wind-Paintings I and II" and "Art and Fūdo". Created the 1988 Seoul Olympics commemorative painting - 1991
Age 66Retired from Jeju National University. Published "Byun Shi-Ji Jeju Wind-Paintings III" - 2002
Age 7750-year Retrospective of Painter Byun Shi-Ji, Sejong Cultural Center, Seoul - 2006
Age 81Invited by the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., USA - 2007–2017
Age 82–92Two masterpieces on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institution (National Museum of Natural History) for ten consecutive years - 2009
Age 84Received the Seogwipo Grand Citizen's Award. Awarded the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Order of Cultural Merit - 2012
Age 8748th solo exhibition "Byun Shi-Ji Exhibition", Gidang Art Museum, Seogwipo - 2013
Age 88June 8: Passed away at his home studio in Seogwipo (age 88). Funeral held as a Seogwipo City Funeral (市社會葬)
Posthumous · Legacy
2014–- 2014
PosthumousByun Shi-Ji Memorial Foundation established - 2023
PosthumousPublication of the Byun Shi-Ji Catalogue Raisonné - 2026
CentennialCentennial Commemorative Exhibition at the Seogwipo Municipal Gidang Art Museum. Launch of the global digital archive in 10 languages. Official opening of "Byunshiji-ro" by Seogwipo City