“I saw a trace of my mother that was tiny but alive on an alley of Insa-dong. I came to realize that the thing I want to do and I should do is to paint kimchi lactobacillus. Like my mother did, I make kimchi home in winter. When I miss her so much, I go to my studio to paint kimchi. People ask why kimchi then I say it reminds me of my mother. I’m happy making kimchi and painting kimchi. Without myself knowing, I became the kimchi artist.” – Artist’s note –
Song’s works Fermentation 2021 and Blooming of Cauliflower’s Yearning were selected for the 40th Grand Art Exhibition of Korea. She dreamed a dream that her aunt goes into a room full of roll papers and says it is a present from mother that I and my sibling can use it as many times as we want. Strange to say that Song’s younger sibling’s work was also selected for the same exhibition. She says that Fermentation 2021 has a message that “like fermented kimchi, people also should mature themselves more.”
“I feel proud that my works promote our culture. The shape and color of kimchi aside, I pour great energy into studying about kimchi, lactobacillus, our food culture, my life and my art. They are connected and they interact. This way, I can be able to deepen my knowledge, touch of brush and style of works” says Song.
November this year at Pyeongtaek City Library Vision Gallery, Song is holding a solo exhibition.
지윤석 기자 jsong_ps13@naver.com