🧑‍🎨 artist statement
✔️Moon Greeting Series

When we think of the moon, the words that first come to mind are wishes, hopes, and desires. Moon greeting, or "dalmaji," is an important custom deeply connected to the lives of our people throughout history. Traditionally, the light of the full moon has symbolized the dispelling of darkness and misfortune. People would gaze at the moon, praying for a bountiful harvest, health, and happiness. This act is not merely about observation; it reflects a remembrance of times when people lived harmoniously, attuned to the rhythms of nature.

The moon illuminates the night’s darkness and symbolizes the cyclical changes in nature. Through moon greeting, people felt a reverence for the cycles of nature and expressed their wishes to the moon. I aimed to portray the moon, imbued with these hopes and future aspirations, as a living entity. The countless wishes of people are etched into the moon, remaining there with the hope that they will someday come true.

Instead of simple representations of familiar objects and landscapes, I employ a unique artistic language by drawing fine lines, layering them repeatedly, and applying color through a meticulous process of distortion and transformation. This technique creates a surface on the moon that appears inscribed with people’s wishes, almost like veins, suggesting that the moon holds these desires within. Inspired by the life force of self-sustaining fruits and flowers that grow, bloom, and provide nourishment to animals and insects, only to return to the earth and nourish new growth, I frequently incorporate such elements into my work.

Though these works are executed in oil paint, they are grounded in the compositional principles and restrained palette of traditional Eastern literati painting. The arrangement of the moon, fruits, and flowers aims to evoke a sense of tranquility and contemplative beauty. The "Moon Greeting Series" explores themes of harmony between nature and humanity and the fulfillment of wishes through various artistic endeavors. It invites viewers to pause amidst the stresses and busyness of modern life and appreciate the serene beauty of nature.

#스타벅스 #반려당함전 #정연경