Spiritual Fulfillment in Art Found
Spiritual Fulfillment in Art Found
  • Jeon Hae-sun
  • 승인 2009.01.16 16:53
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Ko Sung-rye, president of the Hanji Arts Association and co-president of the Global Costume Festival
The movie Yes Man starring Jim Carrey has made a deep impression in the minds of many Korean moviegoers. The man who always shouted "No" to everything is suddenly transported to a situation where he has to say only "Yes."

After much trial and error, he came to manage his changed life and cope with the unexpected situations that resulted from saying "Yes." Because of this change, he could lead a truly happy life. What is behind the simple plot that makes it favored by so many moviegoers Perhaps, modern life is very complex and filled with many choices. Sometimes, modern people wonder if they are not forced to make unwanted decisions. Modern men who are accustomed to the repetitions of tedious daily life might feel some comfort for a brief moment from this movie.

Now here is an artist who leads a real life, more fragrant than the star of that movie does. She is Ko Sung-rye, the wife of Jeong Jae-min, President of the Global Costume Festival. Ms. Ko won the Grand Prize of the 26th Korean National Grand Arts Exhibition in 2007. She is also the President of the Hanji Arts Association of Korea. From 2007, she has served as co-President of the Global Costume Festival. In addition, she is a housewife and a mother of four children. Despite her busy daily schedule because of such varied roles, one can hardly notice a trace of tension or stress in her face. What makes her retain such a state of mind and look so tranquil in the midst of her very busy daily life

A major turning point in her life took place when she started painting. Originally, she graduated from an engineering college which is quite far apart from painting. Enamored with traditional Korean things and also fond of teaching, she started to teach Korean paper craft to teachers who visited the Hanji Arts Association of Korea. She is still engaged in teaching and has been doing so for 20 years.

Turning Round the Street Corner, her new work in 2009
She recalled: "I always emphasized to the trainees to always be prepared for life after retirement. While working as women, it is important to do one's utmost for self-development so that even after retirement, they can choose what they like to do, thus leading and enjoying a dynamic life. I believe that one can truly achieve spiritual fulfillment when one pours out one's whole energy to work ."

She herself leads her life that way. At the age of 45, she one day casually dropped by an arts exhibition and was very much impressed. From then on, she courageously embarked on a new life of painting. All of this may seem a chance happening. However, to her it is not so, because she has been always pursuing spiritual fulfillment in her life. At the crossroads of major change in her life, the answer was "yes" -- a yes with full devotion of her body, mind and passion.

Ms. Ko draws paintings in Korean style, and chooses painting materials from nature, especially those that are very near to the human body such as earth or stone powder. Her work, Movement, that won the Grand Prize in the 26th Korean National Grand Arts Exhibition, is a detailed description of motionless water pumping machines stacked up in a storage place. At a first glance, it looks like a western painting from its composition and varied colors. But with a closer look, one becomes surprised to find that the drawing is done in the oriental style on a sheet of paper. And one cannot help expressing admiration once more when one notices the surprising color sense and the vivid look and feel one gets from the iron of the machines.

Ms. Ko said: "I thought of drawing as a genre of painting that other Oriental painters usually do not attempt. And finally I found idle water pumping machines in a storage area. That was the painting that was accepted for the 25th Korean National Grand Arts Exhibition for display. After that, I did not care about winning prizes and came to devote myself more to own personal paintings. By studying the structure and other particulars of machines, I became enamored of the work itself and could enjoy my daily work. The product of such a rigorous training won the Grand Prize in the 26th Korean National Grand Arts Exhibition of 2007."

Movement, which won the grand prize in the 26th Korean National Grand Arts Exhibition in 2007
Ms. Ko said, "Water-pumping machines symbolize a link between nature and humankind in co-existence. In short, I painted it from the sense of an organic body." That is why the viewer can feel dynamic power from the machines, though motionless. Her attempt in the work to link nature and humankind together in mutual co-existence also coincides with the current global efforts for green revolution.

This year's theme is Homeward Bound. She wants to fill her canvas with what she sees on the way out and back home such as the shapes of the roads and experiences she comes across on the way. She hopes that the viewers can have a sense of rest and she can pay back her audience for the Grand Prize she won.

In conclusion, she adds: "I earnestly hope that many middle-aged women would summon courage from my experience. By drawing paintings, I hope I can positively influence many other people and wish to continue treading on this path with diligence. In this way, I feel I am leading my life in a more profound and worthy way than the past. I humbly want to add a word that the realization of my dream for worthy life is also possible for everybody."

If anybody wants to elevate their quality of life and looks for an enlightened self through the arts, the way is not far, if only he or she can answer "yes" to such challenges.


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