By Reporter Anna Kim 

 

Yeon Ji-seong's invitation exhibition is being held at GS Gallery, 1st floor, 49 Dosan-daero 50-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, from July 15 to November 17, under the theme "Nature's Grain."

 

 

The theme of this exhibition is "Nature's Grain," focusing on intellect and right. Through this exhibition, Yeon Ji-sung portrays paintings that express the aspiration for "peaceful reunification," always seeing our path as one.

The artist believes that the peaceful unification of North and South Korea will serve as a bridge leading to the world.

 

The silent ripples have turned into significant waves, resonating through the artist's works, showing that the unity of our people is rooted in peace and love, even amidst a long history of joys and sorrows.

 

 

The artist confesses that a single photograph of the provisional government in Shanghai, which he saw at one point, changed his life.

 

He began incorporating the righteous history of our nation into all of his works since then.

 

 

Explanation of Exhibition Artworks:

 

For this exhibition, three motifs decorate the exhibition hall, representing the pain of division leading to unification in Germany. The motifs are "Pine Tree," "Golden Tree," and "Whale."

 

Korea, surrounded by three seas, has defended the country despite numerous invasions throughout its history, displaying the strength of our ancestors even during times of weakness.

 

 

The indomitable patriotism is portrayed like the pine tree, always resolute and unchanging, and the joys and sorrows of the long history are depicted like the wrinkles on the forehead.

 

"Golden Tree" is a piece placed above the entrance with the theme "The sun shines upon the world." It represents Korea, which achieved peaceful independence while rapidly advancing from a developing country to an advanced nation within a short period anywhere in the world. The artist expresses the uniqueness of our country through this work.

 

 

"Whale" conveys the message that, through K-Culture, Korea moves toward the world like a boundless sea, promoting unity among us.

 

The vast ocean is both fierce and tranquil. Just like the sea embracing countless lives in its arms unconditionally, culture creates the transition from nothingness to existence like a brush in the vast sea called "Bus."

 

K-Culture is precisely the undulating waves of the sea itself. Representing South Korea, a country that does not retreat, as a mighty whale, the painting signifies our journey toward a greater world.

 

 

The Artist's Statement:

 

While visiting the entrance of the provisional government in Shanghai by chance, I broke into tears. I felt grateful and overwhelmed by the fact that I could stand here as a proud citizen of South Korea, made possible by the countless ancestors who defended our nation.

 

 

always wanted to portray and convey our history through my paintings. I wanted to proudly say that South Korea, surrounded by three seas, is a small yet strong nation that has protected itself from foreign invasions.

 

Choosing pine trees as the subject was because they always remained green, symbolizing our strong spirit, and I used the wrinkles on the forehead to represent the joys and sorrows witnessed over the years, just like the pine trees that have observed it all.

 

 

Moreover, I saw pine trees as a symbol of a mother. They enrich the surroundings, offer shelter when it rains, provide shade for rest during the heat - just like a mother's constant love guiding her children on the right path. That is why I painted pine trees.

 

Depicting history through the interpretation of pine tree bark and using colors added a sense of reality to our traditional hanji paper, which has been recognized worldwide. Pine trees symbolize both our past and present, which is why I expressed our present and future through the sea.

 

 

Rather than reopening the Silk Road through reunification of the divided Korean peninsula, I wanted to represent the whole world traveling through the seas, united by culture.

 

A lone whale is not enough to roam the vast ocean, as it requires considerable strength to travel the entire world. Thus, my whale painting has small fins - the hind limbs that have fused into fins to swim in the ocean. Just like a painter needs a brush to apply colors to a canvas.

 

 

In 2018, I went to Pyongyang, and at that time, I said that cultural exchange would become a great wave uniting us. BTS eventually made it happen with global music, demonstrating that the world I dream of can be realized.

 

The vibrations of the waves spread by whales, resounding louder and reaching the whole ocean, lead me to believe that there will be a day of peace with no wars, driven by a positive influence. Today, I am once again preparing to paint the sea on a blank canvas and become a whale, ready to embark on a happy journey at any time.

 

For inquiries about the artworks, please contact GS Gallery, Manager Kim Ji-eun, at 010-4936-5252.