ⓒSong Si-young

Q. You've been super busy. How have you been lately?

I've been living a whirlwind. These days, I'm just the same, spending time painting. As always, painting is my life. I wake up and paint, eat and paint, wake up in the night to paint, then sleep—it’s all about painting.

Q. Do you continue to work in one place? Yes, I've set up a studio that's also my home.

Q. I'm curious about how you felt when you saw the mangroves. 

I've lived in similar places and have moved around a lot. Seeing this place brought back a lot of memories. It reminds me of a time when I was trying hard to paint no matter what. Nowadays, because I spend so much time alone, there are times I miss living with people. Especially now, with COVID, I have to be alone even more.

Oh, and the cinema room in the main lounge. I really liked it.

ⓒNoh Kyung

Q. How similar are room 705 and your studio in Bogwang-dong?

They're almost the same. In my studio, paintings are hung in a disorderly way just like that. Only the space is different, but the atmosphere feels quite similar.

Q. A lot of people come to see your work. Is there a viewing point they'd find helpful?

The paintings I brought this time are those I did when I first left the army, early sketches. They're small paintings, not the ones I showed in a real exhibition. I started in a tiny studio apartment, and have been working ever since, drawing in that small space.

It's less about the quality as works of art and more about the backstory of how I tried painting at that time. I hope people see it as such artworks and a space.

Q. These must be your very first works.

These aren't works that were publicly exhibited but drawn and collected one by one. They were the paintings I mulled over for what to draw next, and if anything, these are the early works I’ve seen the most, even more than completed artworks. It's the first time showing them publicly.

Q. Your workspace and living space are combined. You've spent so much time there, so it must be comfortable, but do you plan to separate them?

I do intend to separate them, but living so vaguely, I’m not sure. I do things when it's time or when there's an opportunity, without having a sharp plan. I seem to do things as the time dictates.

Q. Are there essentials you must have in your working environment?

As a painter, just having tools and the basics seems sufficient. I don't think essential items or specific environments are necessary. Among the paintings here, many were drawn in the army. The army is a limited space, but even there, with just paper and pen, I used to draw.

Q. Any books or movies you enjoyed recently?

These days, I've been rereading my favorite book, Alain de Botton’s <The Art of Travel>. While reading, I ponder on 'What it means to paint.' Initially, I painted simply because I liked it, but this book helps me question why I keep painting.

Q. You've recently collaborated with musician sokodomo; how did that happen?

Soko(domo) sent me a DM and I liked their music. Our personalities and thoughts were so similar, it became a very free-spirited collaboration. We trusted each other—me in their music and them in my work. It's all about mutual trust.

Q. Do you have any standards for collaboration?

I consider, 'Will it work if I do it with this person?' It's important if we can communicate, beyond just the external things, seeing if we share similar views and thoughts.

Q. What music do you listen to while working?

These days, I listen to a lot of Tame Impala. Immersing in the work process is very crucial, so I try to create a situation that lets me dive into the moment or heightens the tension. Conversely, when resting, I only listen to the sound of rain. Like '8 hours of sleep with rain sounds' or things like that.

Q. Lastly, do you have a favorite or frequently visited spot in Seoul?

After working, I'm always exhausted, not knowing what to do after intense emotional work. I often took walks in Bogwang-dong. Since the area is quite elevated, it's great for naturally encountering night views and scenery during walks.

Text | Park Joon-woo

Photos | Song Si-young, Noh Kyung