Through conversation, this project focuses on what an artist’s work brings participants and what it means for people to have artwork.
In person interview: Song Young-deok, Jung Hae-soon, Choi Jae-eun, Han Min-kyu
Written interviews: Lee Jung-mi, Yuk In-ae, Park Dong-ju, Shin Seung-cheol and Park Sang-hyun
0. Please introduce yourself.
I am Lee Jung-mi. I am housewife who lives with a family of five and cats. Also, I work as a church choir member.
1. How many other paintings were on this wall before this painting? Is it first one?
It is the fourth painting. I painted three like feet using my hands, but this is our first painting by a professional artist.
2. Is there a reason why you decided to hang the picture if it isn’t the first one?
I wanted to hang real art, literally an artist’s painting, at home. I decided right away to hang this painting because I thought it would be a waste to worry about it if I didn’t take advantage of this good opportunity. Also, I was pleased that the artist’s name is the same as my husband’s first letter and the last letter, then I thought it was a drawing that was definitely meant to be.
3. Where did you put the painting and why did you choose that place?
I hung it on the wall above the piano in the living room. It’s a self-proclaimed art space. The meeting of music and painting made the house feel more cultured.
4. What would be the value of this painting if you converted it into money?
It’s two million won.
5. Do you think this painting suits your space?
Yes, It’s also profound. It’s good to be obsessed with thoughts, but I’m not sure about the role of decorating space. But it fits naturally because it’s a painting with bright colors hanging on a white wall. I think if it would be bigger, it will be better.
6. When does this painting catch your eyes?
The painting catches my eye and nourishes me like I’m a plant being watered everyday, because the living room where the painting hangs is my main activity space. I don’t look at it on purpose, but when it comes into my view, I take it in and then move my eyes again. The eye movement is starts from the right, outside the window, to the cat tower and living room window, and to the painting; then it stops.
7. If you made a title for the painting, what title would you give it, and why?
I would like to call it ‘an emergency landing’. Before I knew the original title, ‘Air Flight’, it looked like a seagull flying in the sky and landing in circles. When it was a gloomy day, even though a bird is tired and lost, it looks like a maple leaf seed caught by gravity, but the pretty seagulls with waterproof feathers will only get their feet wet in the water.
8. Was there a moment when you looked at the painting for a long time during the two months that this painting was in this space? What did you think?
From the first day I bought it, I realized that I had a mission. One day, I remembered a phrase or motif that flashed through the door, I looked at it for a long time and organized my feelings. At that moment, Damina’s ‘Abraxas’ came to mind. The Abraxas broke the egg and flew up. No matter which seagull emerged, I think there would have always been that moment. Sometimes I also felt that way and I hoped that the seagull would do the same.
9. Was there a time when you stopped being interested in having this painting in your space?
Rather than being bored, I started to worry about the painting getting damaged. It’s not mine, and there were many unexpected situations. I also had a vague idea that I could decorate that space with my own paintings.
10. Two months have passed, is there a change in the painting price now?
I really do not know about paintings. Also, I don’t want to put a price on a painting that I gave birth to with my heart and raised with a brush. It’s 500? Okay! I am just a person who takes it that way.
11. If you have any other chance to participate in a project like this, do you have any intention to participate?
Yes! To buy my past feelings by rent, is so charming.
0. Please introduce yourself.
I am Yuk In-ae. I love art and I live in Munrae-dong. I’m also a housewife, business owner, designer, and speculator.
1. How many other paintings were on this wall before this painting? Is it the first one?
I don’t remember exactly. I often replace the picture.
2. Where did you put the painting and why did you choose it?
I hang the painting on the widest wall in the living room because it is the best place in the living room.
3. If you convert the value of this painting into money, how much do you think is appropriate?
I don’t know.
4. Do you think this painting suits your space?
Yes, I think it was a good choice.
5. When did this painting catch your eye?
When I lay down on the sofa as I enjoyed it during a windy afternoon, I looked at the painting for a long time.
6. If you made a title for a painting, what title would you give it, and why?
I would like to say ‘Sweet Home.’ Even if the house is small or of different shapes, that house is a healing space for someone.
7. When was the longest time you looked at the painting over the last two months?
When I chose the position for this painting and hung it on the wall, and friends talked about this painting, I looked at this painting for a long time.
8. When did you start getting a little bored of the painting being in your space?
It is the moment when I wanted to make some changes in my house.
9. Two months have passed, is there a change in the painting price now?
I think it will be more valuable because I felt this painting is becoming a real part of my house.
10. If you have another chance to participate in a project like this, do you have any intention to participate?
Yes. It was a great opportunity.
0. Please introduce yourself.
I am Dong-ju Park, owner of Dae-young Company. After I was discharged from the army, I started to work as a manager of quality management in Doilchogyung company cataloguing products. I then quit my job because managing 100 employees is very difficult. After quitting, I established Dae young Company in 1988, and I have been working until now.
1. How many other paintings were on this wall before this painting? Is it first one?
Yes. It is the first picture in my office space.
2. Is there a reason to hang this picture as a first one in your space?
There was a little curiosity about this project and expectation about emotional help in this small space. Also, I appreciated the person who recommended that I join this project.
3. Where did you put this painting and why?
I hung it right beside the office door because it would be easy to see from time to time. I can see it more often from there, which gives me the chance to appreciate the painting in many ways.
4. How much is the value of this painting in money?
I am not good at art and I do not know how to value the painting.
5. Do you think this painting is good in your space?
To be honest, I’m not sure that this painting fits in this space. But I think it is much better than before. I thought about artist’s mind and meaning more.
6. When did this painting catch your eyes?
When customers come, or sometimes when I read a book, I look at the painting unconsciously.
7. If you made a title for the painting, what title would you give it, and why?
I would like to call it ‘Hope and Light’. Whenever I looked at the painting, I felt the strong living energy from a slightly heavy feeling, like a sprout growing in the dark. I am not sure whether or not it is a coconut fruit in the ocean. It seems like seeds that floated down on the black waves and then rooted in the barren sand. Through this painting I felt hope from the light in the dark.
8. When was the longest time you looked at the painting over the last two months?
I am not sure, but whenever I look at it, I felt the power of lives and the strength of patience.
9. When did you start getting a little bored of the painting being in your space?
Rather than getting bored it, I thought about how it would be if the color was brighter.
10. Two months have passed, is there a change of the painting price now?
As mentioned at the beginning, I couldn’t make a value of the painting. I just enjoyed and appreciated this painting and I focused on its meaning for me.
11. If you have another chance to participate in a project like this, do you have any intention to participate?
I will think more carefully. Because the space where the painting hung was the point in the room where people enter and leave. I wondered about damage to the painting. Also, I don’t have enough understanding of art work yet.
First, I don’t know if you are healthy and confident, but I heard that the artist’s path is long and rough; it’s especially full of economic difficulties and fights with themselves to be recognized. Be healthy and happy!
0. Please introduce yourself
I am Seung-cheol Shin. I run the “Strange Philosophy workshop” with my wife at Mun-Rae Art Village, and I study community movement, social economy, art, and ecological philosophy with our friends. I was inspired to establish the Ecological Wisdom Research Institute’s Association (ecosophialab.com) by French philosopher Felix Guattari’s “Three Ecologies,” and by the fact that we are moving towards a post-growth transition society. I am writer of books; “Earth Living, Asking Philosophy for Directions”, “ The Library of Poverty”, “The Chart of the Ecosystem”, “Everyone’s Revolutionary Law”, “Carbon Capitalism” and “Constructivism and Autonomy”
1. How many other paintings were on this wall before this painting? Is it first one?
It is fourth painting in the entire space, also it is the first one in this studio.
2. Is there a reason to hang this picture as a first one in this studio?
There was no space for a painting, but I would like to try to change the atmosphere and style of this space through painting.
3. Where did you put this painting and why?
This painting is a bread on diagonal black and white. I’m very interested in the image of dry bread because I remember that I wet the drying bread with the milk and ate it when I was teenager.
4. How much is the value of this painting in money?
It’s about 100,000 won. Maybe it will be up to 300,000 won.
5. Do you think this painting is good at your space?
Yes. It is very moody and it goes well with the space.
6. When does this painting catch your eyes?
As a writer, I sometimes looked at it while trying to get ideas. Sometimes I got ideas in my mind from it, like the topic of reality.
7. If you made a title for the painting, what title would you give it, and why?
“Dreaming Bread”. I thought about the fermentation process of self-produced bread through a delusional schematic like a dream.
8. When was the longest time you looked at the painting over the last two months?
When I was thinking alone in the studio, I looked at it for a long time. It was a kind of mindfulness meditation.
9. When did you start getting a little bored of the painting being in your space?
It wasn’t boring, everything was good. The atmosphere and style inspire me.
10. Two months have passed, is there a change of the painting price now?
There are some changes. It’s not just the monetary price, it now has value in my life.
11. If you have another chance to participate in a project like this, do you have any intention of participating?
Yes, absolutely I will participate again.
Art is also called the process of re-specialization. It means that everyday has to be new. Unusual art is nice at this point, as it always has a question mark as a potential. I hope you enjoy your work. Thank you for giving me the opportunity.
0. Please introduce yourself.
I am Sang-hyun Park, an activist and planner in Yeongdeungpo-gu. Since this year, I have set up a studio in Mulae-dong to create various activities. There is a space that called “Space Sanghyun”. It means “imagination into reality. “Because I like the stories that various spaces have, I thought I should make my imagination and others’ imaginations into reality in my space. I work as a space and culture director.
1. How many other paintings were on this wall before this painting? Is it first one?
It’s the first picture.
2. Is there a reason to hang this picture as a first one in your space?
I wanted to decorate the space in a variety of ways and also contain various stories.
3. Where did you put this painting, and why?
I hung the picture on the largest wall in the space. I thought it would be nice if there was nothing around the painting. Also, I wanted to focus on the picture.
4. If you convert value of this painting into money, how much do you think is appropriate?
I think 500,000 won is good for it, but it is hard for me to convert the value of painting into money.
5. Do you think this painting is good in your space?
I think the painting is a good fit for any space. However, the color of the wall on which the painting is hung will make the atmosphere different.
6. When did this painting catch your eye?
I’m more often inspired when I look at a painting casually.
7. If you made a title for the painting, what title would you give it, and why?
The tile of the painting is “STOP”. Because in the middle part of the painting, I felt I had to stop.
8. When was the longest time you looked at the painting over the last two months?
Now is the moment to answer the question. As I said before, when my eyes stopped at it intentionally, I felt inspiration from the painting.
9. When did you start getting a little bored of the painting being in your space?
I did not get bored about the painting yet.
10. Two months have passed, is there a change in the painting price now?
No. It didn’t change much.
11. If you have another chance to participate in a project like this, would you have any intention to participate?
Yes, I do. If I have a chance to hang the next painting, I want to meet a painting that goes well with this one.
12. How much do you think is appropriate if you rent your favorite painting for a certain period of time?
I think it would be same concept with the rental fee. I think about 50,000won to 100,000 won a month.
Hello. I was happy to have your wonderful painting for two months. It was awkward at first, but as time passed, I became attached to this painting. It was a first experience for me to feel attachment to a painting. As we get closer to one another, we see more, and the painting is the same. It was a good experience to feel and see a painting that I didn’t feel at first. Thank you.
0. Introduce yourself
Hello. I am Young-Duck Song, a lawyer who runs ‘Nanum Law Office’ in Sindorim.
1. How many other paintings were on this wall before this painting? Is it first one?
I was hanging paintings by artists in Munrae-dong, this painting is the fourth one.
2. Is there a reason to hang this picture as a first one in your space?
I thought it would be meaningful to participate in experimental projects by artists, so I participated.
3. Where did you put this painting and why?
I hung it up in my office. My work is stressful, but the moment I see the painting, I feel free. Also, people who come into my office can change their mood when they see it.
4. If you convert value of this painting into money, how much do you think would be appropriate?
It is very difficult question for me, because I am not good at art. I think if it is about 300,000 won, I will buy it.
5. Do you think this painting is good in your space?
At first, I thought the picture was a bit dark. But after looking for a long time, it was fun to find new meaning in the painting. When I saw this painting, I felt it was like a sick bird that needed help, but as time passed, I found this bird is charging energy through the yellow light around the bird.
6. When does this painting catch your eye?
When I’m getting ready to go home after a hectic day, I look at the painting on the wall with a relaxed mind.
7. If you made a title for the painting, what title would you give it, and why?
I would like to call it “The Rest of a Lonely Bird”. I thought the bird in the painting was not sick or in need of help, it just needed rest. The bird will fly again.
8. When was the longest time you looked at the painting over the last two months?
15 days ago, I discovered a new meaning in the painting. At first time I thought that this bird was lonely, tired and needed help, then I realized it may not be, and that and maybe the bird was preparing to fly again. This is the moment I looked at the painting for a while.
9. When did you start getting a little bored of the painting being in your space?
I’ve never felt particularly bored.
10. Two months have passed, is there a change in the painting price now?
After I found the meaning of positive hope in the bird, I think the price of the painting changed for me. I think it’s worth about 500,000 won.
11. If you have another chance to participate in the project like this, would you have any intention to participate?
I’m planning to move my office to a wider place. After then, I would like to participate in the project. I would like to see my bigger space with a painting.
I hope you could melt the meaning of your work and it can be easier for those who see it.
0. Introduce yourself
I am Hae-soon Jung, born in 1959, and I run a family restaurant in Mul-lae-dong.
1. Since when have you been working at a restaurant in Mul-lae-dong?
I’ve been in the restaurant since 1990. I think it’s been about 30 years.
2. Do you remember any exhibitions during your stay in Mul-lae-dong?
There are artists who are close to each other, but I couldn’t go around to see their exhibitions. I was busy and I didn’t know much about painting. Also, I was introverted.
3. What kind of paintings do you like?
I like landscape paintings, I especially love flowers and autumn scenery.
4. What do you think about hanging this picture in your restaurant?
After hanging the painting, my business got better. One day, I asked one of my customers to buy it, because I felt it makes fortunes.
5. Did the customer who was recommended show interest in the painting?
He was interested in what animals the artist drew. He thought it may be a cow, a bull or cat’s foot.
6. There is a lot of space here. Why did you hang the picture on the place you hung it on?
I thought it was a place for many people to see. Many people asked me about the painting and they liked it.
7. If you convert the value of this painting into money, how much do you think is appropriate? For example, how about convert to your daily income? How do you think?
It is about 700,000 won when I sell about 100 dishes. I think it is okay.
8. If you become the artist who painted this painting, which title would you set for this painting?
I would like to be call “A Ranch”. When I was young, I remembered that there were many flowers and ranches in the countryside.
9. Why did the artist paint this?
I don’t know. I think there is a story. I think artist may love animals.
10. Can you guess about the artist, gender or ages?
I don’t know. I think the artist may be a female in her mid-30s.
11. Do you feel that way just by looking at this painting?
I think I have a gift for guessing.
12. Two months have passed, is there a change in the painting price now?
No. Why? Are you going to take it? I look at this picture in the morning and evening.
13. It’s a bit burdensome to buy a painting, but if you rent a painting you like, how much would you be willing to pay for it?
It’s about 100,000 won for two months. I think it would be good.
14. What do you want to do the most when you have free time?
I want to go to the field, not too far from the city.
I’m curious about the reason why you drew the feet. Next time, bird’s legs or cosmos flower will be good.
0. Introduce yourself
I’m Jae-eun Choi, 64 years old. I worked in the Shin-Jin Valve of the Export Corporation after learning welding in 1974. In April of 1986, I opened a factory called ‘Che-il’ Industry in Munrae-dong, I have been running it for 40 years.
1. How many other paintings were on this wall before this painting? Is it first one?
There were several paintings in this space, but this painting is the most meaningful one. I was especially happy that there was someone who gave me this painting.
2. Could you tell me about other paintings before?
There was my portrait that the artist painted. The other one was various tools of painting. I think this airplane painting is the only one that makes me feel like I’m floating.
3. Have you ever bought a painting or been to an exhibition?
I‘ve been to many exhibitions in Munrae-dong, but I’ve never bought any paintings. Even if there are things I want to buy, it is very expensive…
4. Then, which paintings drew your attention?
I usually looked at the paintings that were very meticulous in detail.
5. Why did you hang this painting in the factory office, not at home or anywhere else?
It’s okay to hang it at home, but I wanted to hang it in the office. I’ve been in charge of delivering and repairing at the airport for 20 years. When I got the airplane painting, I wondered if it was meant to be.
6. What were the reactions of people visiting the office?
It was good because many people said that it was a great painting.
7. If you convert the value of this painting into money, how much do you think is appropriate?
I am also curious. I think it would be 200,0000 won.
8. Do you think this painting suits in your office?
I just painted the wall of the office. I think this painting looks good with the wall colour.
9. When does this painting catch your eye?
When I feel bad, I looked at this painting. Then I felt like I was floating in a cloud and I could imagine going on a trip.
10. If you made a title for painting, what title would you give it, and why?
A traveling airplane.
11. Two months have passed, is there a change in the painting price now?
As an object maker, I looked at the corners and details for five minutes. I thought it was a well-drawn painting.
12. When did you start getting a little bored of the painting being in space?
I didn’t get bored with this painting. I feel good when I keep looking at it. The airplane in this painting is not a big one, nor is it simple. That’s why the curiosity about the airplane can last for a long time. If there were windows or something, it would be frustrating and annoying.
13. If you have another chance to participate in a project like this, would you have any intention to participate? If you are willing to participate, what kind of the painting would you like to see?
I’d like to participate. I think a picture of a yacht or a picture of a rocket would be good.
14. If you rent a painting you like, how much would you be willing to pay for it?
I think about 30,000 won would be appropriate.
I really want to hear the meaning of this painting and I am curious about the title. I hope your journey as an artist goes well, like this airplane. Also, as you know, products can be sold or bought when they are completed and perfect, but I think it is good to be a little disappointed in art; it makes people like me keep asking questions, and it arouses our curiosity.
0. Introduce yourself
I am Mingyu Han, a musician.
1. How many other paintings were on this wall before this painting? Is it first one?
It’s the second one.
2. Is there a reason that you decided to join this project and hang this painting?
The painting that I had did not affect my decision to participate. Sometimes, there is a painting I want to have, regardless of the price
3. Where did you put the painting and why?
The place where I spend the most time in a day is the living room. It is also a work space for me. It is important to see it often and be together, so I hung it on the wall of the living room.
4. If you convert the value of this painting into money, how much do you think would it be worth?
I think this painting will be worth more than 500,000 won.
5. Do you think this painting suits your living room?
It fits well with the space but the wall colour doesn’t fit with the painting. That’s a bit sad for the part that I hang on the reflective old window.
6. When does this painting catch your eye?
When I wake up in the morning and end my day in the evening, I often see this painting.
7. If you made a title for the painting, what title would you give it, and why?
The title does not exist. In a way, it’s very static, but just as the sound or the music can be dynamic, even if it looks static and sharp, there can be a burning intensity in it, and yet there’s no sound. It’s like the pipe is not a pipe, and that might not be an instrument, so it doesn’t really exist, just like I do. The idea that arises from relationships between people and people. It may be my personal opinion, but I think these ideas have brought up that title.
8. When was the longest time you looked at the painting over the last two months?
As a person who does art and creates something intangible, I had personal moment to appreciate of the painting. I think I saw it differently when I came back from the memorial service around a year after my father died.
9. When did you start getting a little bored of the painting being in your space?
I’ve never done that. I just don’t like the frame of the painting.
10. Two months have passed, is there a change in the painting value now?
Yes. The value is getting bigger for me. It is not because I am attached, but because I found a new value in the colour or touch feeling. I don’t want to look for stories or narratives when I look at music or art, but there’s an emotional echo of the painting itself that I can’t just take in visual colors. I look at the lights differently and my own appreciation method and the value of the painting is getting bigger.
It’s hard for us artists to have our art be our full-time job these days, but I hope that the artist of this painting will be able to continue working in an environment where he or she can continue to do good works regardless of his or her work. I think it is meaningful not only to individual artists, but also to fans of art, painting, art itself, and art. Also, I think the biggest obstacle is education on appreciating the experience of art and on sharing art. In Korea, everything has an economic logic, such as entrance examinations and employment. Education is especially valued. The reason why people can come out even 1g more than other noble life beings, is that the hope from a human is that humans can create art and feel countless emotions through it. I think if you pursue an education where you can access and choose various arts instead of just education for the sake of economic gain, I believe that art can be truly enjoyed as a real art.
The ‘Door to Door Service’ project started with a relatively passive penetration compared to the active attempts by artists to establish collaboration and workshop exhibitions that promoted exchanges between Mullae-dong and various local members around it.
This is a collection of the experiences of nine people, over the course of two to three months. There was one exception; circumstances made it difficult for one person to participate during the middle part of the project.
The paintings were delivered to the project participants’ chosen areas. These participants were interested in the experience of putting the artist’s work in a place other than an exhibition hall. This experience was conditioned upon the participation in one in-person interview and five written interviews. The questions in the interview included whether or not the work of art was encountered, the experience of the director, the story of adding to the job without all information about the painting, and the painting’s value as a personal experience as well as its financial value.
The process of collecting and organizing the answers was exciting. One finding was that the older the participants were, the more they looked for a link between the paintings and what might have happened in the past or the present, giving them a sense of connection. Some people became curious because they grew attached to the painting and talked to customers because of the painting. It was interesting to see the meanings derived by the people who experienced more difficulties in life in the paintings compared to the stories of people who were surprised by the airplane.
Although they received answers between 100,000 won and 5000,000 won when asked about the price of the paintings, most of them expressed difficulty in valuing the artwork financially. In addition, when asked if they would like to participate again if there was a similar project like this, many answered positively. Many positive responses were also optimistic about the form of paid work rental. Although works are already being rented and sold through various online platforms, there is a desire for artists to try individual contact approaches with their neighbors.
The personal harvest of this project is that I could hear various stories about the work more abundantly than through the form of an exhibition. It also made the creation of beautiful pieces that I had never thought of possible. Your messages of support, as well as the story told by someone who has lived for decades as a craftsman in a field such as iron engineering is likely to remain in my mind for a long time.
“(…) Since a work of art is not a product for use, there must be a certain amount of space so that those who encounter it can enter it (…).”
Lastly, I would like to express my deep gratitude to Young-Sik Choi, who helped me eavesdrop on this because of curiosity, and Sunyoung Oh, an organizer who allowed me to try this project within the Look who’s Talking project.