My first private exhibition began at the age of 45. I was born in Gwangdo of Hiroshima, Japan on Jan.22, 1938(Dec. 23,1937 of the lunar calendar). My father and cousin’s brother gave my name Kwang-Shik according to the meaning of my birthplace. My family moved to Hyogogen Gasmi when I was 3 years old. At that time, Japan attacked Manju and the soldiers were moving into Shanghai. The next year Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and then, the Pacific War started in 1941. In my childhood days, I was good at painting a picture, singing a song, and writing calligraphy. In addition, I was excellent at dance and exercise.

My cousin’s brother(Jeon, Gang-Ju), and sister(Jeon, Gang-Ok), lived with my family. The older brother was good at taking exercise, not to mention studies. In my room, there was a folding screen made by him. It was made using photographs or something like a scrap of newspaper and magazine, whose content was regarding the flowing with times. Whenever I saw it, I grasped the flowing, could criticize it and had a long memory. I painted three-dimensional pictures with a spatial concept at the age of 5 such as fighting planes, battleships, destroyers, submarines, etc. These pictures were displayed in the principal’s office as well. When I was 6 years old, I had my first love and now remember it clearly.

My little brother’s name is Hong-II, and 3 years younger than mine. From his early days, he who had a clear head liked to travel. As a director of a foreign company and businessman, he has extensive knowledge of foreign matters. At present, he is the representative of KOMA Corporation located at Ocean Tower Bldg. He has served 18 years as the president of believers in the Haeundae Catholic Church and is the Dean of the College for Senior Citizens as well.

I was quite different from my litter brother. I was an energetic person, had a violent temper, and had a good memory. My mother used to cauterize with moxa in order to control my temper according to the herb doctor’s advice. Using an encyclopedia and a world map, I wrote and memorized the national flag, capital, river, sea, and channel of each country, including peninsulas, island countries, and oceans.

During Japan’s colonial rule of Korea, most Koreans, including me who was a little boy, suffered and were treated discriminatingly by many Japanese. On Aug.15, 1945(12am), I came to know Japan’s decision to surrender by the Emperor of Japan(Hirohito) through radio broadcasting in Japan. When I was 8 years old, my parents decided to return to Korea. After coming back to our country, we moved and settled in Busan. My father who graduated from Busan Commercial High School was excellent in abacus calculation and a natural with business.

At that time, the naked mountains in Busan looked red due to their treelessness. The streets full of smelly horse droppings etc. were dirty, and the Japanese language was prohibited. I was coldly treated because I couldn’t speak Korean well. Even so, my mother made me transfer to an Elementary School affiliated with Busan National University College of Education. I was in the same grade as that of the Japanese elementary school, while my classmates were older than me by 2~3 years, and even more than 5 years. I cannot forget an incident in the classroom.

My first teacher(a female) was giving books to each student by their names. But, she didn’t give me it not to mention call me by name. I earnestly expected it and so, I asked her, “Why don’t you give me the books?” She answered, “I can’t give you it because you didn’t pay for it.” I was angry and said, “You seem to be a merchant.” “What?” I answered, “If you sell it and receive money, you’re nothing but a merchant, not a teacher.” She was so upset and then went to the teacher’s room with the attendance book. One of the teachers said to me, “Come to the teacher’s room.” I couldn’t understand clearly what he was saying, because of my poor Korean language. I had been in a bad violent temper then. My mother came to the school, and I had to move to study in another classroom because she refused to teach me.

In my childhood days, I got lots of ideas in my head. After reading The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, I wanted to follow it. Using a raft I made, I tried to travel across the sea but failed, because it didn’t move. However, I gradually came to know the sea and love it. I preferred cliffs or the deep sea to swimming beaches.

Wearing water-tight eyeglasses for swimming, I  would jump into the water and play, picking turbos, echinoids, and abalones along with fish. At the port, there were various ships such as ferries, freighters, barges, etc., so I came to know about the ships and was gradually attracted to the sea, which became the subject matter of my paintings. Further, I came to know about sailors and even the life of an old fisherman’s wife. The deep sea, the silent sea, the foaming brine, and the tsunami that a series of waves are rapidly breaking onto the shore when an earthquake occurs. Today, tsunami became a universal language but I’ve known already for a long time.

The center of my mind is the sea. The silent sea suddenly becomes a typhoon and the waves are wild, rough, and high. Typhoon has different names but its essence is the same: A typhoon occurs in the Asia-Pacific region, a hurricane in the Caribbean Sea, and a cyclone in the Indian Ocean.

The artist Jeon, Sang-Su who likes the sea, Park, Gi-Tae, Song, and Yong became my close friends and remained so for almost 20 years. But over the years, we have parted. Park, GI-Tae is in Pohang and Song, Yong is in Yangpyeong. Also, the watercolor artist Bae, Dong-Sin, and I were very friendly with each other. I first met him in a group meeting along with Jeon, Sang-Su, and Park, GI-Tae. Now he is in Yeosu.

When painting the sea, I want to express the essence of the deep sea rather than the wild waves. Perhaps a lighthouse seems to be similar to the path of life.

I feel loneliness from the lighthouse standing alone. It sends the light as a signal giving meaning that it is dangerous for a ship to approach here.

In 1946, there was an announcement that Nationwide Art Public Subscription Exhibition would be held in the newspaper.

At that time I was 9 years, I submitted a watercolor painting whose subject was the sea, but I failed because of insufficient qualifications. It was the first and last.

In 1950, I entered middle school and this year the June 15 Korean War broke out. The school became a military hospital, and we scattered to study far and wide such as briquet manufactories, mountains, etc. Later, a temporary school building was made in the school playground, and then we gathered together. Under a difficult war situation, we came to make a school magazine.

In getting mimeograph copies difficult to work, I drew the faces of the teachers humorously with a steel pen, thinking about the facial characteristics. Everybody was satisfied with the result and the teachers were amazed at it.

I submitted my work at The Campus Art Exhibition. The result was a second-place winner despite that everyone recognized my skill. 1st Prize was given to the son of the president of P.A.T. After that, I didn’t study art-related fields, which was the starting point of a rough and difficult path in my life. Lee, Wu-Whan who couldn’t receive any prize at the time, has become a worldwide artist, after living through various hardships and concentrating on one thing. I had a different direction but was proud of him.

After joining the armed service, the training was related to my artistic ability. From the training period till discharge from military service, I was a soldier who didn’t wear a helmet, not to mention a firearm.

The date when I received my serial number(10114926) was the day of the May 16 Military Takeover in 1961. Starting with a chart drawing, I did various tasks(such as plans, charts, etc.), frequenting departments of operation, munition, information, and personnel. For this reason, whenever I have a terrible dream, I come to restlessness without arms during the war in my dream.

Over the years, I wanted to end my stormy life at the age of 45, and just then, I came to think of painting, as the last thing I’d like to do. I started to paint watercolor at Beomeo Temple in Busan, without even an easel. While painting a picture, I heard in the rear, “Huh huh, you paint a picture quite well. When did you learn?”

“I didn’t learn it.”

“Then, when did you start painting?”

“This is my first time.”

“………”

He was the watercolor artist Hwang, Gyu-Eung. After this, we often met with the artist Lee, Sang-Guk. That evening Hwang suggested a way, drinking makgeolli. “Hold your private exhibition after working hard. You have to give established artists a shock.”

“???..”

Three months later, I held my first private exhibition. It had held at the Rotary Gallery in Gwangbok-dong of Busan for 4 days(Oct.15~18, 1981), and I couldn’t write my profile. The viewers were more than 700 people a day. On the last day of the exhibition, Park, Gi-Tae who visited Busan to paint the Busan port, looked at my work and recommended holding an exhibition in Seoul. So, I went up to Seoul without any plan. In the middle of searching for my sister’s house, I visited my childhood friend pediatrician Dr. Hong, Yong-Wu’s hospital. He who graduated from Seoul National University Medical College enjoyed painting a picture.

He offered an atelier, located at the 2nd F. of the hospital building, for me. I was deeply moved by his kindness, thinking my fate to paint a picture. Then, I started to concentrate on painting. Next year(June), I had 2nd private exhibition at Deoksu Palace Art Museum, located at Gwanhun-dong, Jongro-gu. Mrs. Han, Do-Jeong who is the wife of the president of Esquire Co., helped me to paint by offering a house and management expenses. My unfortunate past started to change after painting a picture.

I decided to become a true artist who pursues true painting and determined my goal that I intended to paint a picture in my own way by feeling, not for sale.

I say to the learners, “paint a picture by heart and mind rather than hand skill or technique. Everyone has individual skills. You have to find yourself!”

It is a well-known fact that the expression method of water-soluble watercolor is classified roughly into two types: transparency and opacity. but it is not the only one. Today, variety and uncertainness are harmonized, and both the anger of loss in value and disguised self-destruction coexist.

In the middle of reality in this sense, the passive appearance of watercolor painting might be due to the popular clarity. So, I came to paint watercolor with muddy water. Regardless of the state of the water, palette, and brush, I just painted by my sensibility. Accordingly, I couldn’t write the artist’s profile to be able to stand. The subject “My Watercolor Journey” was always used in the pamphlet cover of my private exhibition. I lived a bohemian life. Since I was a wanderer, My Watercolor Journey was used as the subtitle. My life was a muddy water-like life, and watercolor was also painted with muddy water.

In Korea Outdoor Watercolor Artists Association, the work is done in the field. Looking at the members, I say, “Sketch it quickly. And when painting, take surrounding pictures as a support, and you can paint original beauty.” When photography is really needed, I didn’t make good photographs. I took pictures shaking the camera, which is a way to capture the inner sensibility. My painting theory is an attacking style. 

It seems to me that I struck a false note in every attempt. My marriage life, the family business inherited from my father, etc., such as are illogical results. At last, I have found a proper milestone in my life, so “My Watercolor Journey” or the bohemian path will be continued until my death.

May 2008

– This is summarized from the book “Journey to my watercolor painting”