Artist LEE WON - Corée à coeur

MJC PICHON

7 Boulevard du Recteur Senn 54000 Nancy, France

[Tal] Lion

2022, Mixed media and Korean paper collage on canvas, 60 x 80 cm

[Tal] A 2022, technique mixte et collage de papier coréen sur toile, 22 x 22 cm

[Tal] B 2022, technique mixte et collage de papier coréen sur toile, 22 x 22 cm

[Tal] C 2022, technique mixte et collage de papier coréen sur toile, 22 x 22 cm

[Tal] D 2022, technique mixte et collage de papier coréen sur toile, 22 x 22 cm

[Tal] E 2022, technique mixte et collage de papier coréen sur toile, 22 x 22 cm

[Tal] F 2022, technique mixte et collage de papier coréen sur toile, 22 x 22 cm

[Tal] G 2022, technique mixte et collage de papier coréen sur toile, 22 x 22 cm

[Tal] H 2022, technique mixte et collage de papier coréen sur toile, 22 x 22 cm

Les séries [Tal]

2022, Mixed media and Korean paper collage on canvas, 22 x 22 cm (Each mask)

Corée à Coeur: : Korean Month in Nancy

Usually, I work with Hanji, the traditional Korean paper, and write my personal memories in Korean. Therefore, my works mostly contain my memories and emotional elements. On the other hand, this exhibition feels like a festival, so I wanted to try something interesting. This event, which introduces Korea, a country far from France, reminds us of vibrant and bright colors. It creates feelings of anticipation, joy, and excitement. I imagined people gathering in a space in France, experiencing a culture different from their own and opening new perspectives.

In this imagination, the word "liberation" suddenly came to mind. I hope that everyone gathered at this event will be liberated from the idea that they are "different from each other" and enjoy a pleasant time together.

This is why I chose traditional Korean masks [Tal] as the subject of my work for this exhibition. Behind the mask, you hide your face, but at the same time, you can freely reveal your hidden depths to others! Mask… what a worthy subject that opens the hearts of people!

Therefore, I want to create artworks that show Tal in a humorous way. I hope that my Tal will be an "outlet for a sort of liberation," allowing everyone to enjoy the festive atmosphere.

Traditional Korean masks [Tal] are made of paper, wood, or clay in the shape of human or animal faces. In the past, Koreans wore Tal when making a wish, praying to drive away evil spirits, or when performing dances and plays. By wearing a Tal, they took on a new personality by transforming into another person or animal, different from their original self. Tal were also used to ward off disasters, pray for abundance, or satirize the Yangban: the aristocrats. Likewise, it seems that Tal have the power to liberate people and eras.

A Tal is a mask.