Ilsoo Kyung’s exhibition, Jayeonmi, depicts the significance of the environment, as well as her message to her audience. The exhibition takes place (Oct.27–Dec.10) at Douglas College.
Kyung, who immigrated to Vancouver from South Korea at the age of 29, says the environment has always been an inspiration for her artwork.
“I grew up near a forest in a small town, the walk was quite far to school (almost an hour), had to climb up a mountain: it was inspiring,” says Kyung, 80, who now lives in Ladner.
Kyung describes the exhibition as a multimedia piece, which includes: acrylic paintings, landscape prints, photography, woodcuts (printmaking) and a paper culture as well.
“While I was walking around Burrard Street downtown, you can see the reflection so I used that as a base. I also was influenced by the Ladner landscape, the Richmond fishing village and animals in the environment. For the paper culture, I used Korean rice paper,” explains Kyung.
Beginnings
Artist Ilsoo Kyung.| Photo courtesy of Ilsoo Kyung
Kyung never thought she would be an artist.
Having experienced both the Second World War and the Korean War, Kyung says life was tough for immigrants back then. They often came to Canada “empty-handed’ and had to work very hard.
“When I came, I didn’t have 100 dollars in my hand. I had to earn my own money by working as a nurse (a license which I had to work very hard and long for),” says Kyung.
She decided to take her first art class in her mid-60s.
“I knew that I didn’t want my retirement to be in the house watching TV,” she says.
She tells a story about how on the second day of class, the art instructor couldn’t believe Kyung had never painted or had prior art experience.
“But I didn’t even know how to hold a brush!” says Kyung, with a laugh.
That was both motivating and inspiring for Kyung. Some of her nursing colleagues also complimented her on her work.
“My husband says he doesn’t like my painting but prefers my photography, so I mix it up: a little of both and everything,” says Kyung, who also does video art.
Meaning in art
Kyung says she doesn’t consider her work political, but rather a representation of her personal opinions.
“Most times, it surrounds environmental awareness. It’s always about landscape, about nature,” she says.
The artist, who was also inspired by the works of the Group of Seven, says symbolism is important in art, but the way it comes across varies from artist to artist.
“Most artists try to give a message to the public and that’s important. It’s something intentional and sometimes by accident,” Kyung says.
Kyung wants to bring awareness to the environmental consequences of people’s disregard for nature.
“I want people to know we are wasting materials, like tossing garbage in the river or someone [tossing] their cigarette butt on the ground…this is carelessness –of course we don’t want people to do this,” she says.
Happiness in art
Life, relief print by Ilsoo Kyung.| Photo courtesy of Ilsoo Kyung.
Kyung, who is currently teaching art classes once a week to seniors as a way to give back to the community, says she hasn’t always liked Group of Seven. She says her previous work was very dark and depressing.
“I felt I had to change, “says Kyung.
After walking around, looking at other people’s work, she decided to make her work happier.
“So my painting [became] quite bright and colourful, like Group of Seven,” Kyung says.
The artist says adding emotion to art can be challenging; sometimes you can see peace or anger in there, but it’s hard to describe.
The best compliment someone can give Kyung is when someone is really happy with her work.
“Once in a while when I put my painting on Facebook, people comment: ‘Your work is like the Group of Seven.’ It’s a really big compliment because I think, ‘Really, am I like that?’” says Kyung.
Kyung hopes people like her work and ultimately feel a sense of joy.
“When you see an image, you [may] feel happiness or sadness, so I’m trying to draw to make people happy – that’s important to me,” she says.
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