[비즈한국] There is a saying called "the value of together." It appeared in a corporate image advertisement about a decade ago. It is a wonderful copy that carries the meaning that the power of being together can change the world. Being together signifies empathy or communication, and with this strength, a new paradigm can be created. Art also holds value when it gains the empathy of people. Empathy comes from the zeitgeist and a universal language of art. The ‘Korea Art Support Project’ also intends to show the thoughts of various people through an easy art language. Entering its 10th season, we support artists who strive to practice Confucius’ idea that "good art must be easy."
None shall sleep/Even you, O Princess/In your cold bedroom/Watching the stars/That tremble with love and with hope/But my secret is hidden within me/My name no one shall know/No, no, upon your lips/I will tell it when the light shines/And my kiss/Will melt the silence/And you will be mine/No one will know his name/And we will, alas, die, alas, die/Vanish, O night/Set, stars/At dawn, I will win/I will win, I will win.
These are the lyrics to "Nessun dorma" (None shall sleep), which displays the height of dramatic beauty. It is an aria from the posthumous, unfinished opera "Turandot" by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), which showed an exquisite harmony between artistry and popularity.
This aria is the most famous song sung by a tenor. It is so familiar to us that it was even used in a famous Korean car commercial over a decade ago. It is a difficult song to pull off without explosive vocal power and the technique of emotional control. With a narrative about overcoming hardship to achieve victory, this structure frequently appears in art throughout history and across cultures. Although it has been over 100 years since its debut, it remains the song most loved by people around the world. Perhaps this song will maintain its vitality until the end of human civilization.
Songs with the same message have been created countless times since then. In particular, songs sung for agitational purposes at protest sites also share the same structure. That we will eventually win.
However, there is no song that maintains popularity as consistently as "Nessun dorma." It demonstrates a magical power that shakes the emotions of even those who do not know the lyrics. Where does that power come from? It is the power of pure beauty.
In our art scene, high praise has often been given to art that masks itself with ideology or prioritizes logic. It was only treated as valuable art if it was packaged with social issues, political ideology, or formative logic. This is why Minjung art (people's art) or abstract art are considered high-level. Underlying this is cultural hypocrisy.
Lee Sun-woo’s paintings offer a stinging rebuke to this perception in the art world. Her paintings have no story. They do not possess content to be read. They appear to be paintings that depict everyday sentiments in an ordinary way.
The canvases she paints primarily feature dining tables set with various foods. Dolls evoking a Christmas season atmosphere, exotic clock towers, and diverse flowers are also visible. The theme of the work is "May Garden (Mayfield)." As such, they have been undervalued as mere common still lifes. However, these subjects are only a means to show the art she envisions.
"We try to read content from paintings. Painting is an art that communicates through the eyes. The visual language of communication consists of shape, color, and composition. I paint with the goal of pure beauty. I want to show an aesthetic that feels happy, like a May garden. I choose friendly still-life objects to approach people easily."
It is no coincidence that the melody of "Nessun dorma" comes to mind when looking at the painting style Lee Sun-woo pursues.