I have a natural affinity towards the genres of sipjangsaengdo (십장생도, 十長生圖) and hojakdo (호작도, 鵲虎圖), which refers to the ten symbols of longevity and tiger and magpie paintings respectively. These genres are primarily associated with minhwa (민화, 民畵) or the people’s paintings, which were popularized by the lower classes of Korea’s traditional caste system during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). As a self taught painter living in diaspora, I feel closely related to these anonymous artists of Joseon for they painted in spite of their inability to receive any formal education or training, unlike the professional artists of the royal court who primarily worked in seohwa (서화, 書畵) or ink painting and calligraphy. Minhwa artists drew inspiration from everyday life, as well as nature, mythology, and the values they wished to carry forward. By synthesizing the thematic ideas of Korean folk painting with the dynamic visual language of ink painting, I hope to discover what lies within the dialectics of the various dominant styles of Korean painting throughout the centuries.
My World in Ink- Postmark Center for the Arts. (2024) Ink on Xuan Rice Paper 19”x58”.
