Art and Life of Three Female Artists

What does the age of 40 mean to female painters? Artist, Yoo Hyeon-mi says that she happened to find＇a piece of reality＇in the puzzles when she enjoyed the puzzle game with her son. Another female artist Kang Mi-sun says, ＂I want to see, touch and feel my life even though I cannot go fast.＂ They are already waiting for the fall of life. For them, it is not easy to cherish mind of an artist while struggling to meet requirements from home and society. Digital Gallery, a KBS art documentary program, introduces three female artists who lead different but similar lives as a female aged 40. Those 3 artists are now holding an exhibition titled ＇Unfinished Narrative＇at Ilmin Gallery in Gwanghwamoon, Seoul until June 29. The program will run at 10 p.m. on June 4 on KBS Korea Satellite TV and at 1: 35 a.m. on June 15 on KBS1.

Yeom Seong-soon uses strong colors in her paintings. Her personality is very strong and bold. She even says with a smile, ＂My life is so miserable!＂ Her underground workshop is very humid and wet in the summer but her self-confidence can be seen in the refrigerator and kitchen wall which are all painted with blue color by her. Since she works on the floor due to lack of working space, the floor is naturally stained with various colors. The floor testifies her hard effort and symbolizes somewhat depressing reality and future in front of her.

Yoo Hyeon-mi wants to be recognized as an artist not as a female artist. She believes that artists can become hardened only when fighting with themselves not with social reality.

Meanwhile, Kang Mi-seon who receives strong support from her husband who is also an artist shows the stable and orderly world of the works. In her works, man and woman can meet and live in harmony.

Rheu Song-hui, producer of Digital Gallery, said, ＂For artists, the age of 40 is a time when they cannot free from their style, but, at the same time, begin to wander＂ and she added, ＂I wanted to show the different lives and art of 3 different female artists.＂

Seung-Jae Lee sjda@donga.com