■ About My Art Works

 First of all, I'll explain the motive and background of becoming an artist. It will explain why I'm not doing any work on art now.

I was born in a small village where my father had been born. I graduated from elementary school in a mountain district where my mother had been born. When I was in the fourth grade of elementary school, I thought I'd become an artist and I joined the art club.

I was also a volleyball player and runner at the school. At that time, I began to learn the work of art.
While most people who want to become artists begin to draw pictures, I began to build some frames with clay, wire, paper, wood, etc.

Then I started rubber prints which probably influenced my later art work.
While I worked as an artist after graduation from university, I was more satisfied with sculpture than with drawing.

Although I majored in oil painting, I often built ceramic wares, cut woodblocks and made prints. I started drawing oil paintings in the first year of middle school.
At this time, I met a female teacher who graduated from a famous art university. She liked me and taught me a lot.
Now I think this was my destiny. This led me to major in oil painting at university.
After the first year of middle school, I moved to Seoul, the capital city of Korea, after my father failed in his business. At the second year of middle school, I was a scholarship student for my athletic ability. But I quit athletics because my father didn't want it. (In those days, most parents wanted their children to become civil servants, lawyers or prosecutors.)

My destiny went on in high school(Seoul O-San High School: Since 1907).
The high school I enrolled at was the one from which the first artist of western painting in Korea had graduated. The school's foundation had mostly supported the artist club among other clubs. Discipline is strictly enforced in the club so 2 ~ 4 students of 30 ~ 40 students who enrolled in the club at the beginning of school remained at the time of graduation.
Every time when school was over, we gathered in the club's room and learned art techniques from seniors. Those who worked at this club for 2 years showed the same level of art skills as those who worked at the art college for 2 years. As I eagerly learned art work, I could do part-time work as a lecturer in an art academy when I was in the second year of high school. (1979. Graduated from O-San High School)

Majoring in oil painting at university, I started my way as an artist and participated in many exhibitions.
I worked at oil paintings, printings and ceramic wares eagerly so as to be a famous painter in the future.
I taught students in the art academy till late at night. After the students went home, I did my own work till dawn.
I did about 1,200 works till I quit my work as an artist. I have only about 10 works and pictures of them.
Because I did a lot of art work, I participated in 8 Solo and 50 Group exhibitions. After I got married I went into business to earn a living. It was the age of inconvenience and mental conflict for me.

:: "Snowercape-8903 (Village-DoPyungLi)" Oil on Wood. 1989. 216 x 52.2cm ::

Though it has been a long time since I have done my art work, I will return to it some day.
Always think and feel something ... drawing ... the job to express the feeling ...
My greatest hope is to express this feeling.
I'm waiting the time when I sit with brushes, chisels and clay in my working room. Not an expert artist but a painter only for a hobby....