Freedom in modern society, Acrylic on canvas, 90.9x65.1cm, 2019
Freedom in modern society, Acrylic on canvas, 90.0x65.1cm, 2019
I think that 'freedom' is accepted and used in a variety of meanings, from freedom from restraint and oppression to physical and thinking freedom from surveillance and censorship by a specific institution, to economic freedom in a capitalist society where I live, depending on the reality faced by individuals and groups and the circumstances of the times in which they live. And above all, I think that 'freedom' in the 21st century modern society is more meaningful to individuals than to groups.
From my point of view, I think 'freedom' is a moment when the intangible property of 'time' given to an individual is not influenced by society and can be used only at one's own will. Based on this idea, I wanted to first look at 'freedom' from a big frame and talk to you about a more fundamental story.
For us individuals living in the 21st century modern society, the naked person in the work represents a person with an ego free from society and the gaze of others. The cloud-shaped image floating from the head also expresses the freedom of thinking that cannot be prevented by any means from the repressed social customs. The term "freedom" means that beyond the age, gender, race, and borders of the viewer, it can come in various forms and meanings only depending on the situation and reality in which the individual is currently facing.
To the naked person in the painting, I projected myself bound to the material form of the body. Although the body is bound by a material form, I wanted to express that the freedom of thinking through my artwork transcends any material and mental boundaries and lives and breathes freely in the world. My artwork is now sending messages to those who are currently viewing my artwork through various media beyond the constraints of time and space.
What is the 'freedom' that you feel while looking at a my artwork?
Freedom in modern society, Acrylic on canvas, 90.9x65.1cm, 2019
Freedom in modern society, UK, Acrylic on canvas, 130.3x89.4cm, 2020
Revelation, struggle for freedom, Acrylic on canvas, 90.9x65.1cm, 2019
Passion, patience for freedom, Acrylic on canvas, 90.9x65.1cm, 2019
Nirvana, Freedom in B-side, Acrylic on canvas, 90.9x65.1cm, 2020
Resurrection, Acrylic on canvas, 90.9x65.1cm, 2020
The forest of dots, lines, planes, time and space, Acrylic on canvas, 90.9x65.1cm, 2019
The forest of dots, lines, planes, time and space #2, Acrylic on canvas, 90.9x65.1cm, 2019
Girl, tiger with pine flowerpot in London, Acrylic on canvas, 90.9x65.1cm, 2019
Childhood innocence #3, Acrylic on canvas, 72.7x53.0cm, 2020
Childhood innocence #3, Acrylic on canvas, 72.7x53.0cm, 2020
This is the third work of the Dongsim series, and it contains the story that I want to tell, which is the reason and motive for starting the Dongsim series. In addition, it has a connection with the 2017 artwork 'Brother and sister', which depicts siblings in the civil war. Dongsim #1 and #2 show the purest appearance you can have at that age, feeding pigeons in the park or in the square or playing with curiosity. However, at the same time, in other places, the symbol of purity is intertwined in the interests of reality and simplified into the words only survival and death. This situation does not refer to a specific situation. It could be the image of young siblings who are sacrificed in a civil war in a distant country, or it could be the image of young siblings who are left in the blind spot of social welfare in Korea. I criticize this situation and do not want to look at the world pessimistically. Rather, if there are light, darkness, and positive parts, I think it is the reason of the world that there are negative parts. However, I think it is a duty as a writer to let the world know the other part, which is treated somewhat passively compared to the positive part, but should not be turned away.
Plato's theory of geometric atomism argues that everything in the world consists of two triangles. I got the idea from this theory and thought that children are the most important thing for us to continue throughout generations. This is because when they come of age in childhood, they will become the faces of our human beings in the future, whether positive or negative. To capture the feeling of fear among the siblings, he geometrically simplified his brother's appearance and expressed the possibility of returning to the form of nothing at the origin, which could be destroyed by his situation within a short period of time. In contrast, the younger brother expressed his feelings of fear with his brother's protection, but he expressed them in a relatively complete form to express his feelings of a small sense of stability.
It depicts the world in which we live around us, centering on the brother and sister who cringe in fear. The left side of the work expresses the realm of nature that is not related to the human world, and although the detailed form is unknown, the existence as if wearing a cloak shows a transcendent being, a creator who cannot distinguish between good and evil. The right side then symbolically shows our humanity, who has an attitude of indifference but is interested for a while when it becomes known as a big issue in the media. The yellow area under the transcendent existence means the world we live in, and the beings surrounding the brother and sister under the work embody the dark image of our society, which can devour the brother and sister at any time unless we are interested. In addition, the area that looks like a wave of Boratons throughout the work expresses that it belongs to the concept of time when our world circulates from eu to eu again from a series of nothing that is created and destroyed, just as the wave continues to flow continuously.
Childhood innocence, Acrylic on canvas, 72.7x53.0cm, 2019
Childhood innocence #2, Acrylic on canvas, 72.7x53.0cm, 2020
Childhood innocence #3, Acrylic on canvas, 72.7x53.0cm, 2020
Yes, I'm squib, Acrylic on canvas, 53x72.7cm, 2019
Yes, I'm squib, Acrylic on canvas, 53x72.7cm, 2019
In 2014, I missed the opportunity to study in the U.K. due to personal reasons. I worked with the regret of that time and the desire to learn, experience, and freely draw pictures anywhere in the world, crossing borders. Among the countless passers-by walking along the Thames River in London, the U.K., depicted me establishing myself in the world as an artist. Also I remembered the memory of 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' that I visited the theater holding my mother's hand in the middle of winter, and I set 'Squib' as a homage to Harry Potter.
*What is Squib?
A person who is born into a family of wizards but cannot use magic. Families that value pure blood are expelled, and in general, they are ignored and discriminated against in the sorcerer's society. Therefore, when Squib is born, they sometimes live in a muggle society.
A person who is born into a family of wizards but cannot use magic. Families that value pure blood are expelled, and in general, they are ignored and discriminated against in the sorcerer's society. Therefore, when Squib is born, they sometimes live in a muggle society.
Along with the artwork, the letter is a piece of artwork.
You never know. Maybe I'm a real squib..
You never know. Maybe I'm a real squib..
Knock, knock, Acrylic on canvas, 72.7x53cm, 2019
Yes, I'm squib, Acrylic on canvas, 53x72.7cm, 2019
ST. V-Twin of Freedom, Acrylic on canvas, 90x72.7cm, 2019
ST. V-Twin of Freedom, Acrylic on canvas, 90x72.7cm, 2019
The artwork depicts the Buddha achieving enlightenment under the Bodhi tree and entering Nirvana, having realized the concept of 'freedom.' The hand gestures of ST.V-Twin of Freedom represent the right hand performing the "Abhaya Mudra" (施無畏印), which eliminates fear, and the left hand performing the "Varada Mudra" (與願印), which grants the wishes of all sentient beings. The three crows symbolize the Four Heavenly Kings, guardians of the four cardinal directions in Buddhism. One crow, which is unseen in the artwork, represents the viewer, who is in the process of seeking their own answer to 'freedom' by pursuing personal values deep within their heart.
For me, 'freedom' is the desire to break free from the economic difficulties commonly faced by artists, allowing them to continue their work without constraints of time, space, or financial limitations. Ultimately, the 'freedom' in this artwork may have different meanings for different viewers, depending on the values they pursue. However, under the blessing of ST.V-Twin of Freedom, the work conveys the message that we can overcome fear and achieve our goals, no matter what they may be.
ST. V-Twin of Freedom, Acrylic on canvas, 90x72.7cm, 2019
Everything that makes me stand up right away, Acrylic on canvas, 90x72.7cm, 2020
The last dance of swan queen, Acrylic on Canvas, 130.3x89.4cm, 2019
The last dance of swan queen, Acrylic on Canvas, 130.3x89.4cm, 2019
I was inspired to work on it by Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake music and ballet. In Swan Lake, Odette is cursed by the devil Rothbart to live as a swan by day and as a human by evening. Then one day, Prince Siegfried meets Odette, who has turned into a human, and they fall in love. Later in the play, however, Prince Siegfried swore love to Odile, the devil's daughter, who was mistaken for Odette due to the fall of the devil Rothbart. Odette, who can solve the human-to-swan curse through true love, becomes hopeless with feelings of betrayal and ends up throwing herself into the ending lake.
The latest film depicts Odette dancing for the last time just before throwing herself into a lake in despair. Although it is the devil Rothbart's scheme, a woman must have felt betrayed by a man she loves fiercely, and despair and fear of losing her humanity and living as a swan forever…….
"In desperation and fear, she decided to die, but tragically her last dance is so beautiful."
I tried to put the emotion lines that were hard to express in these words in the background of Odette's gestures, colors, and works.
*Personally, I recommend you to listen to Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. As the music slowly peaks, you can feel the emotions of "desperation and beauty" at the same time.
The last dance of swan queen, Acrylic on Canvas, 90x65.1cm, 2019
The last dance of swan queen, Acrylic on Canvas, 130.3x89.4cm, 2019
Seoul, now and in the making, Acrylic on canvas, 90.9x65.1cm, 2019
Seoul, now and in the making, Acrylic on canvas, 90.9x65.1cm, 2019
After living in other areas for recent years, in 2019, I returned to Seoul, where I was born and raised, this year. Throughout Seoul, my childhood, adolescence, and youth remain warm emotions with memories. Being immersed in this appreciation, I became curious about the history and identity of Seoul, where I was born and raised, and where I am currently living in breathing, which naturally led to work.
Seoul has a history of more than 600 years since it was transferred to the capital of Joseon in 1394, and I thought it was a city with Korean culture and identity that is comparable to a city with a long history of foreign countries. However, in the modern history of transitioning to the Korean Empire along with its past history, Seoul also has a painful history that should not be forgotten as it is the period of Japanese occupation. TAs the royal palace of the Joseon dynasty was demolished, the Japanese colonial government building was constructed in its place. The ornate bas-reliefs of the demolished structures displayed at the Seoul Museum of History felt like an unforgettable part of Seoul’s history. Inspired by this, I wanted to capture 'the culture and identity of Seoul over 600 years of history' and 'the history of Seoul that should not be forgotten' in my artwork.
My house(Hope, dream and desire), Acrylic on canvas, 130.3x89.4cm, 2020
My house(Hope, dream and desire), Acrylic on canvas, 130.3x89.4cm, 2020
Isn't home a collection of desire that combines hope and dreams for modern people living in modern society? I've thought about it.
I also think I have been constantly thinking about the ideal house I want to live in, although it has changed depending on the situation at the time. When I was young, watching the movie Home Alone, I had fantasies about a large garden in the pool, an American country house decorated with colorful Christmas decorations, and in my adolescence, I had fantasies about luxury villas and apartments of celebrities with views of the Han River broadcast on various broadcast media.
Even now, if I can live in a space with a view of the Han River, there is no reason to refuse, but I have a slightly different idea. Would I be happy if I lived in a big house and a fancy house? Can I give you satisfaction? I haven't lived in it yet, so I can't say anything, but if there is a dead space that does not exist beyond the radius of my life, I will feel anxious. So, I became interested in minimalism and a small house and thought about the size of the space that is essential to live. And between the minimum space necessary to live, more space than necessary to live, your own small kingdom of home, and the two spaces, what kind of house can give you the greatest happiness as a haven? I thought about it.
This concern led to my current desire and regret for a space where I can work without being disturbed by anyone, and that worked the most, naturally creating an ideal space where the studio and residential space in the work were combined. And while looking at the finished work for a long time, maybe the desire for home and the desire for space are the same, and isn't it the expression of hope and dreams for the situation in which you feel regret in your present life? I thought.
