REALTIART

[한글][ENG] COVID-19 DONATION ART EXHIBITION

 

 It is a bit embarrassing but I had never realized the beauty of Korean traditional calligraphy, “Seoye” until I met artist Hyuna Oh. Seoye as I remember it, was a punishment.  The memory of grinding the ink bar on the ink stone when I was a second grader in elementary school is not a pleasant one. I had to do this because I ran in the classroom during the break time when you are supposed to be free running and playing. When I told her I don’t remember learning Seoye in school, she laughed and said she still remembered because she was one of a few children who was selected and honored to receive a prize for a competition of Seoye in school. Seoye classes are still in the art curriculum in school these days, but discipline, which is considered important in Seoye, cannot be learned within an hour or two, so it seems to be treated just as a mundane chore. The memory of me having to grind the ink bar whilst trying to stay still is torturous so much so I can’t forget it even as an adult, and I think the indifference and disfavor of Seoye might be the same for children these days as well. Despite my feelings I suggested and had a Korean traditional calligraphy workshop with her in Realti artspace last year. And yet I had this amazing experience of flying through the time of learning how to grind an ink bar, the pose, how to hold a brush and practicing a stroke that might have sounded boring. The peace of mind that was given while taking a deep breath and drawing line after line repeatedly was a nice, warm joy that one might have when they walk with someone who makes them smile just by looking at them. 

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 There are numerous forms of beauty in the world. Among them, the beauty that emphasizes the spirit might not be easy to truly show its value because it is something that takes a lot of  time and effort and can only be discovered by looking inside patiently. It all sounds so old and boring while there are so many beauties in the world that can be seen and felt without making any effort. I, however, think I was able to find new pleasure during the short Seoye workshop because she and I both take art that exists for centuries and we both have a mindset for the art not to lose its roots but still allow for some change.

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 The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is now holding an exhibition called ‘Seo at an Art Museum’, a Seoye exhibition that explores the role and meaning of  modern and contemporary Korean Writing. Surprisingly,  it is the first calligraphy-only exhibition since the museum’s opening. I was fortunate enough to view the exhibition, which shows today’s various changes of Seoye through the modern era of traditional calligraphy, and asks the question, “But is calligraphy art?” with a kind explanation from the curator on the museum’s YouTube channel. If I hadn’t had the opportunity to do a Seoye workshop with artist Hyuna Oh, I wouldn’t have had the pleasure or desire in watching the exhibition for more than an hour and twenty minutes. I would like to thank her for showing the beautiful side of the Seoye world in spite of the great risk that ignorance can cause and threaten tradition. I look forward to the day of another Seoye workshop when I walk with her on the usual road she takes, the road she always threads upon gently  holding onto her brush. This is the reason I have come to believe why we need Seoye in this era. 

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Shinhae Kim