Edaily | Korean Painter Kim Hyun Jung: “I Hope People Can Heal Through My Paintings in Everyday Life”
Korean painter Kim Hyun Jung gave an interview at the Healing session of the 5th Edaily World Women's Economic Forum (WWEF 2016), held October 19, 2016 at Sebitseom, Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. She introduced herself as a painter of women in hanbok, and spoke about her artistic outlook that moves between tradition and modernity, and her wish to convey healing through everyday life.
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[Edaily, reporter Won Da-yeon] “I'd be happy if viewers could crack a smile looking at my paintings”
Korean painter Kim Hyun Jung took part on the 19th in the Green-Healing session of the '5th World Women's Economic Forum (WWEF),' held at Sebitseom, Seocho-gu, Seoul, discussing the theme 'Restore Your Self-Esteem, the Best Version of You,' moderated by actress So Yoo-jin, alongside former professional golfer Pak Se-ri and novelist Kim Byeol-ah.
Kim Hyun Jung introduced herself as 'a painter who paints women wearing hanbok.' Kim, who owns over 30 hanbok, attended the panel talk that day wearing hanbok as well.
Kim has drawn attention for applying contemporary modes of expression to the classical art of Korean ink-and-color painting. In 2014, she received the 'Notable Artist Award' from the Korean Art Critics Association.
While hanbok tends to evoke an image of modesty and refinement, there's a twist in Kim's paintings. Representative works include 'You Who Move Me,' depicting a young woman in hanbok riding a fast-food delivery scooter, and 'A Night I'd Like a Drink of Samgyeopsal,' depicting a woman in hanbok eating grilled pork belly at a Korean BBQ restaurant.
“I've thought a lot about what makes something Korean, but I wonder — is it really only traditional things like hanbok and Korean food that are 'Korean'?” she said. “I put into my paintings the thought that the things we're enjoying right here, right now, might all be Korean too.”
Kim, who chose painting as a space to rest while going through depression, said, “At first I tried to paint people I disliked, but at some point I felt I resembled them. So I decided that if that was the case, I'd rather paint myself, and I began putting my everyday self into my paintings.”
“Since I draw my subjects mainly from everyday life, some people describe my paintings as 21st-century genre paintings,” she said, “but since I find the greatest joy through painting myself, I'm happy to have it called whatever people want to call it, as long as it brings joy to those who look at it.”
Kim added, “A museum is a space open to everyone,” and encouraged people to “stop by a gallery on a whim sometime and find healing through art.”