Korean-American abstract painter Paik Gannomi in his terse five flowing strokes produced Sonaggi (Rainstorm) in 1973, New York. Abstaining from being elaborate or superfluous in expressing a natural phenomenon, Rainstorm, he stated through bare minimum of lines and colors. In his use of line, he shares commonality with the Korean form of calligraphy art Seoye, in which a force of stroke must come alive with an inherent movement and rhythm. Artist Gannomi’s strokes add profound dynamism by characteristic embodiment of deep red within black. Ensuing space created by the lines is another trademark of his works influenced from Korean traditional art.

His art can be categorized as an abstract expressionism in line with Franz Klein and Jackson Pollack. Most of Paik Gannomi’s work was not consciously created with a title in mind, rather a perfunctory impression emerged from the lines and spaces.

While his contemporaries back in Korea found fascination with the monochrome movement in 1970’s, he held his own forte with the unique style of aquamarine background overlayed with the flowing red on black lines. The epitome of his works came to fruition when he was awarded the Prix d’Audonne for “Paysage de Seine” at Grand Palais, Paris 1981. Previously, in 1980, he received the Mayor’s award at Palais Vincennes, Paris for “l’Automne” and “Sainte Face.”