ARTIST NOTE
-The Reality of Life Projected onto Paths and Light
Human life exists within time. Each distinct life gives rise to individuality, and that individuality becomes the source of creativity. During the long winter, we feel the cold wind and wait for warm spring, only to find ourselves later longing for cool autumn amid the sweltering summer. In other words, time passes as we endure and wait. The difficult and arduous journey of human life persists through these daily moments. I paint while contemplating the value of each day within this flow of time. This is the reality of life.
In witnessing the resilience of those who persevere without losing hope despite hardships, I came to recognize the preciousness of life. I began to depict dirt paths and hills, seeing human life itself as a road, while the yearning within the human heart took form as hope in the boundless sky.
This is why, even after years of painting realistic forms, I have never grown weary of it. Time, after all, holds the true essence of humanity—it is the enduring force that shapes history. And within that, my life and art exist. The objects that appear in my works—cross-sections of trees, stones and their reflections in water, and the shifting interplay of light—are all metaphors for the facets of human existence. These are not realist landscapes but symbolic representations that contrast the realities of life.
When I portray the cross-sections of trees, I often paint paths atop them—paths that could be the grain of vertically cut wood or the roads we walk in life. Sometimes, standing before a lone tree left behind after harvest, I feel as though I am gazing upon the long road of my own life. That path may stretch endlessly into the distance, leading toward an unknown world—perhaps the road of my future. At its end, I have always sensed something luminous, free of fear, waiting. That anticipation could manifest as a hopeful "light." It was my hope, my artistic motif. Though vague, this waiting for the future was hope itself. Even the lonely or sorrowful farmers and travelers in my paintings are figures carrying hope. This artistic individuality will persist, as it always has, because waiting is the hope of all people.
Life brings more disappointments than triumphs, more suffering than ease. Regret often outweighs satisfaction, and despair comes more readily than confidence. As I paint, I reflect on the past, anticipate the future, and trace the light that carries history—examining myself and envisioning what lies ahead.
The paths in my paintings are not mere country roads. They are the roads we walk from birth until death, holding the countless mysteries of history and the triumphs and sorrows of human existence. I sought to depict these roads with various forms—steep hills climbed with effort, as if each day of life begins anew. Everyone walking these paths carries something for their future, whether real or illusory. These forms, sometimes cold with the night’s yin energy, then warmed by the morning’s yang energy, emerge from the mist where dawn meets the human spirit. I paint from that moment until the time when darkness never fully sleeps.
In my work, objects and colors—especially the infinite expanse of paths and sky—contain my thoughts. Unbound by genre or -ism, all elements of nature are subjects I embrace in my art. What matters is capturing the infinite changes and meanings of time and light within them.
In terms of expression, I emphasize inherent meaning over visual realism. Simplifying forms, I avoid the descriptive nature of realistic landscapes, instead conveying the metaphorical essence of paths and nature.
Artist Yeon Kyu-hyeon’s Solo Exhibition, Settled in Hamyang Since 2003
The works on display fondly recall memories of the tireless play and adventures on the village’s backyard hills.
Artist Yeon Kyu-hyeon , who has long captured the vibrant landscapes of Jirisan and the sweeping views of its valleys, now brings us even closer—into the heart of the mountain and its villages.
[Yeon Kyu-hyeon / Korean Painter]
"As the exhibition title suggests, ‘Once Upon a Time, on the Small Hill Where I Played’—most of these pieces zoom in on the surroundings of my home. This one here is the only large-scale work. I wanted to preserve it as a record, fearing it might be submerged..."
The village, once at risk of flooding, was fortunately spared when the Jirisan Dam project was canceled. The artist has documented not only the mountain’s hidden depths but also vanishing villages, abandoned homes, and ancient trees—each with its own story.
[Yeon Kyu-hyeon / Korean Painter]
"This is right above Yongyudam in Machen. If a dam had been built, all of this would have been underwater. These are abandoned houses. And on that small hill, there are graves. Around Jirisan, there are places with deep historical meaning—village guardian trees, protected natural monuments... Each has its own tale."
For the artist, Jirisan’s small villages, winding rivers, and ancient trees became cherished anchors, helping an outsider grow roots in the mountain.
[Choi Jae-kyung / Geumsan-myeon, Jinju]
"Without living there, these works wouldn’t exist. By residing there, he’s captured our nature—and Jirisan—more authentically. Seeing these pieces brings me so much joy..."
[Park Yoo-hwa / Hamyang-eup, Hamyang]
"He’s expressed Jirisan’s purity and clear energy with such delicate precision. Even as locals, there are things we might overlook, but his art brings them to life."
After moving his studio from nearby Gyeonbul Village to his current location, the artist’s perspective shifted—from wide vistas to intimate, close-up scenes. Among his most cherished spots are the Eomcheongang River, which flows through Jirisan’s valleys, and Yongyudam.
From the raging monsoon currents to the gentle streams carrying spring’s essence—he captures the dynamism of the water’s flow and sound in meticulous detail.
[Yeon Kyu-hyeon / Korean Painter]
"All the streams from Jirisan’s northern slopes converge here. Because it’s upstream and a gorge, the monsoon floods are spectacular—the roar is immense. I wanted to depict the water’s movement closely. Traditional Eastern painting rarely details water realistically, but I’ve focused on it."
With each passing year in Jirisan, the artist has grown closer to what the mountain has offered. His 20 years in Hamyang, devoted entirely to his craft, are distilled into twelve solo exhibitions—all centered on Jirisan.
[Yeon Kyuhyeon / Korean Painter]
"Living here so long, I’ve noticed how every corner—each pine tree, rock, small hill, or rushing stream—holds people’s stories. So I delve into these details, finding narratives in even the tiniest landscapes..."
A time when trees become more like trees.
The artist is already preparing his next project.
[Yeon Kyu-hyeon / Korean Painter]
"Around Jirisan, there are many ancient, meaningful trees—protected ones, trees with stories. I’m thinking of creating a series focused solely on them. I want to approach them with reverence, absorbing their significance..."
What new tales of Jirisan will Artist Yeon Kyu-hyeon ’s ink unveil through these trees? The curiosity lingers.
ARTICLE
JOHN LIP -LEE
My Garden of Imagination
My garden is an idealized vision of nature—woven from memories and imagination. Trees, birds, flowers, and people find their place in this serene space. To capture their essence in everyday life, I observe the world through the eyes of a child or adjust the aperture of my mind’s eye, zooming in and out to uncover hidden depths within memories. I gather hazy and vivid recollections alike, then breathe life into them on a blank canvas with color and composition. Each finished piece awakens, reminding me of my existence and guiding my path. This purity, clarity, and tranquility define my aesthetics.
My paintings don’t replicate specific landscapes; instead, they immerse the viewer in expanses of color and pigment. They harmonize hues to evoke joy, using saturated tones as a form of visual melody. Broad, flat brushes create vibrant color fields, emphasizing flatness while borrowing the molgolbeop technique from Korean ink painting—where forms dissolve into single strokes. Layers of flattened petals or leaves gradually fade into the background, their brushstrokes diffusing into space. This approach replaces perspective with depth within the flat plane, while monochromatic backdrops amplify a sense of infinite, luminous nature.
Through painting, I rediscover life and respond to it. My work seeks connections with the world, sparking greater happiness. Beauty, to me, is born from that joy and the resolve to create a better world.
May my art ripple through the viewer’s heart like a wave, stirring dormant emotions. May it offer solace and happiness. Even if my hopes seem futile now, I trust in art’s boundless vitality. I’ll keep filtering the tension between polluted nature and human relationships onto the canvas. My mission is to cultivate the flexibility of thought that transcends reality into fantasy—a challenge I embrace as I return to my work.
Solo & Invitational Exhibitions: 29 Shows
Jeju Museum of Contemporary Art (Invitational), Fukuoka, Seoul, Ulsan, Gwangju, Gyeongju, Jeju, and others
Group Exhibitions
Snail Gallery Opening Invitational (Snail Gallery / Ulsan), 2014
Gwangmyeong Speedom Bicycle Special Exhibition (Speedom Gallery / Gwangmyeong), 2014
Gwanghwamun Festival (Sejong Center for the Performing Arts), 2014
Istanbul-Korea Art Show (Sejong Center for the Performing Arts), 2014
Love Up Exhibition (63 Sky Art Museum / Seoul), 2014
Oh Seung-woo Museum of Art Invitational Exhibition: The World Seen Through Flowers (Oh Seung-woo Museum / Muan), 2014
Beautiful Journey Exhibition (Hyunin Gallery / Jeju), 2013
Gallery Art World Opening Exhibition (Gallery Art World / Seoul), 2013
Beyond Women Exhibition (Nampo Art Museum / Goheung), 2013
Sounds of Nature Exhibition (Tower Gallery / Busan), 2013
33 Artists of the Year Exhibition (Gallery Pyeongchang-dong / Seoul), 2013
Collections
Jeju Museum of Contemporary Art, Ulsan Museum of Modern Art, Haitai, Crown Confectionery, Nampo Art Museum
Current Affiliations
Member of Group Saebyuk (Dawn), Line and Color, and Jungjakpa (Mid-Sized Works Group)
Recommended Artist, Jeollanam-do Art Exhibition
Director, Korean Art Association
