Writer홍보협력팀
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2022-02-21
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A person sitting in front of a refrigerator and eating pizza; a person riding a delivery motorcycle; and a person playing billiards ─ these all seem to be very ordinary scenes in our daily lives. But it catches your eye when the person is a woman beautifully dressed in hanbok. Moreover, they are all in traditional Korean paintings. We met with Hyun Jung Kim, the iconic artist responsible for these paintings.
Hello! I am Hyun Jung Kim, a Korean painter called an icon of Korean painting. Currently, I am working on the “Naesung series,” a confessional self-portrait related to social values and conventions.
If you look up Naesung in a dictionary, the word is defined as “a person who hides their true colors and acts differently.” Everyone wants to hide their shortcomings, and wants to be recognized by others in a way. I, too, was not free from the outside evaluations and social conventions. “Naesung story” is the deviation from the norm, and my confessional self-portrait.
In terms of techniques, I created a new style of painting, adding Western style collage to traditional light-colored, ink-and-wash painting. I intended to recreate the unique crispy texture of hanbok jeogori, and used ink for the skirt of hanbok to add transparency. I paint people and other items with light colors. I try to create works that can be enjoyed and empathized by the people of our time, while preserving the elements of traditional beauty of Oriental paintings.
I started painting with my sister when I was very young. Then I started to learn to paint in earnest when I was in 3rd grade of elementary school, then I went to Arts middle and high schools. Since I went to Arts high school, I had opportunities to experience various majors and materials. In the process of deciding on a major, I considered many majors, but Oriental painting, Korean painting, especially, inspired me the most. I can still remember my feeling of shock when I first saw the harmony between the clean and deep ink smear in the rice paper and the pure colors over it. Moreover, the book Special Lectures on Korean Paintings by Oh Ju-Seok I read at the time also played an important role in making my decision. Among the many works of our ancestors, I especially like the works of Danwon Kim Hong-do and Hyewon Sin Yun-bok. The frankness and wit in the genre paintings, the sense of composition, and the drawing ability have the power to convey the maturity and the style of the Korean painting.
Just as eating tacos and kebabs or drinking lassi is a meaningful experience for us, I believe eating kimchi with chopsticks would be a special experience of Korean culture for foreigners. I realized that in the exhibition in Hong Kong, not just in Germany, the everyday things in Korea were so new to foreigners that they needed explanations. I was surprised at the cultural diversity. For example, we needed to explain to the German audience what kind of costume hanbok is, what hanji and ink sticks are, and what the word naesung means. That shows how much our culture and paintings were unfamiliar to them. However, despite such unfamiliarity, they were curious about my work and enjoyed them. I saw the possibility that Korean painting could work in the world. I want to develop naesung into something that can earn more universal empathy, and hold another exhibition abroad someday.
The reason I am active on SNS is because I can always learn about new information and technologies through communication with various people. Nowadays, everyone talks about the era of the 4th industrial revolution. The field of art is no exception. A painting by Google’s AI artist Deep Dream was sold for 100 million won. The AI project ‘Next Rembrandt’ reproduces Rembrandt’s unique style of painting by imitating composition, color, and even the texture of oil paintings. It became possible to bring to life the painting style of a dead artist.
Instead of ignoring the changes of the era, I think we should utilize these technologies by keeping pace, or by going a step ahead, to try interesting new things. It may be an opportunity to explore new fields. Like Nam June Paik’s video art. I really enjoyed the exhibitions of the digitalized old paintings, and once, I worked on the 3D prints of the naesung girls in my works, which was really fun and refreshing. There is nothing that is not enjoyable in the process of trying new things. I feel lucky to have been born in Korea, in a country that changes quickly, and reflects those changes immediately. The creative fields in Korea will develop into more diverse forms, and I will try to absorb all those changes quickly as much as possible.
Also, for creators to grow together, exchanges among artists in different majors are necessary. I run H&A CENTER, Hyun Jung Kim Art Creative Center. Working with researchers with various majors, such as film, textile art, social science, and science and engineering, from idea planning to content production, we get effective results in various areas, in lectures and collaborations. Through these experiences, I realized how effectively the power of the knowledge community can develop the content industry. We will expand our scope of activities and challenge ourselves so that art can contribute to the overall society.
Before, I felt it was sad that the traditional and beautiful hanbok was being forgotten because people don’t wear it much anymore. But now, you can see that there are many hanboks on the market, natural and beautiful just as the Western dresses. Also, Korean elements are embroidered, and accessories are used to make hanbok more beautiful, and my view on hanbok has also changed. I would be more than grateful if people would feel more familiar with hanbok because of me.
So I thought it might be helpful to broaden the Korean wave by combining this tradition with the power of Hallyu, the Korean wave, sweeping through the world these days. As for the response about the Korean painting of BTS, people thought it was fresh and new to see something they had never seen before. It also had an effect of satisfying their fantasy. The response was very positive.
I know that the King Sejong Institute Foundation is an institution that spreads and exchanges our language and culture with the world by providing a variety of education to students who want to learn the Korean language and culture. Just like a painter who introduces Korean art to the world through Korean painting, I believe that the King Sejong Institute Foundation is an organization that plays an important role in promoting our culture.
First of all, I want to tell them to first look at a lot of different Korean paintings. I would like to ask them to try to open their eyes and ears for the paintings, not only in their hearts but with their bodies. Sometimes, it may be enough to just enjoy the visual or emotional charm that the Korean paintings give. But if you learn the history, techniques, and the material characteristics, you will be able to enjoy it a lot better.
For example, there is a big difference between looking at a Korean painting, or an Oriental painting, before and after knowing that it should be viewed from the upper right to the lower left. If you can study through books, lectures, videos, etc., it would be really nice. But if that’s difficult, I recommend you go on a docent tour where you get commentaries when you go to an exhibition. If you view Korean paintings while listening to the commentaries of a docent, you will be able to appreciate them many times greater.
I am always open to what I will paint. As for my direction for my work, I want to work on my paintings with my heart, not with my mind. What I mean by it is an honest work. I believe the ultimate dream of an artist is to be at the level where he or she can deliver the honest work with heart, working for a very long time. And there is something about the business achievements of Hyun Jung Kim Art Center that I work for. I want to be a Korean painter representing Korea, and a cultural missionary who promotes the charms and beauty of Korean painting.
The power of Hallyu is extraordinary these days. Korean culture, such as K-pop, K-drama, K-movies, is well-known and enjoyed by many people around the world. At first, I wondered why there are not many global artists who are Korean, when there are so many people who are talented. And through that question, I felt the need to understand the current art market of Korea, and if I could contribute to the expansion of Hallyu, wouldn"t that bring about satisfactory results? I was selected for 30 under 30 Asia by Forbes, the biggest economic magazine in America, in 2017. With this opportunity, I plan to focus on more activities and works so that K-Art, the Korean paintings, can be widely known around the world. Here, for a more detailed plan, I am thinking of making the Art Nouveau of Korean painting. I want to create a unique piece of work by combining the delicate and beautiful image of Art Nouveau with my Korean painting. Also, my first invitation exhibit of 2022 will be held from January 28 to February 20 at the Incheon Paradise City Hotel, so I would welcome your support! (laughing)
I would like to tell them a story of an artist. It is the story of the genius painter, Picasso, who of course had natural talents, but he was also a real hard worker. He is widely known as a prolific artist. I once calculated the number of his working days and his works; he created one artwork per 2.2 days. This amount of work is actually enormous. Usually, students attending art college can barely complete five to six works per year. Picasso, who is known as a world genius, worked as hard as this. So I want to encourage them to invest a lot of time and enjoy studying. If you keep studying and have the heart to enjoy it, you will have good results. This may be just an ordinary message that anyone can give. There can always be difficult times, but if you overcome those moments by remembering your dreams, I’m sure there will be good times. Way to go, KSI members!