[비즈한국] 'My dog passed away, and I'm worried about whether he'll cross the Rainbow Bridge safely because he couldn't see well due to cataracts.' In the following drawing, the dog is seen crossing a Rainbow Bridge made of an escalator, waving and smiling brightly at his owner. 'Don't worry too much. The world has gotten better. They say they'll fix your eyes too.'
‘Such a Relationship,’ a special exhibition by illustrator Keeknee, who draws stories from people by adding warmth and humor, kicks off on the 25th at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul. A press conference was held on the 24th, one day before the opening.
The artist Keeknee gained massive popularity on social media with the segment 'I'll Draw Anything for You.' By illustrating the stories of followers, he overcame the difficulties of his own artistic career and now has reached 1.21 million followers.
The interior of the 400-pyeong exhibition hall at DDP Exhibition Hall 1 on the second basement floor was filled with drawings, videos, and various installations ranging from miniature size to human-scale and even larger. Literally, the world inside Keeknee's illustrations has been recreated in its entirety.
The exhibition is organized into 12 sections based on the content and nature of the works. The first section, 'All About Keeknee,' serves as an introduction to the artist. It unfolds episodes from his childhood and school days to his time as an illustrator and his growth into a professional artist. Next to it stands a giant Keeknee statue, greeting the visitors. It is posed like Rodin’s ‘The Thinker,’ resting its chin on one hand and closing its eyes. Perhaps it is contemplating how to draw someone’s story.
After passing through the arch, you reach 'Such Relationships,' filled with countless words exchanged between the artist and the public in speech bubbles. In the middle, a giant Keeknee smiles contentedly while looking at people's comments on a smartphone.
In the 'Anything About Family' section, an actual house interior and a town have been recreated. Family—the closest people to us, yet often the hardest to talk to. Many of the stories Keeknee draws are related to family. Perhaps the artist, like us, has struggled to express himself to his family. While viewing Keeknee's exhibition, words left unsaid might be conveyed instead.
The aforementioned story of the dog crossing the rainbow bridge has been recreated in this exhibition even more elaborately and beautifully as the 'Rainbow Escalator.' The subsequent sections, 'You've Been Adopted' and 'The Time We Spent Together,' also capture moments of joy and heartbreak shared with pets, who are another member of the family.
Not only a house but an office has also been recreated as if it were real. Giant people sit at their desks with hollow faces, receiving 'blood transfusions' of coffee. The walls are filled with phrases like, 'I want to go home,' 'I want to leave work,' and 'I want to sleep.' It is a 'sad-but-funny' work that represents the reality of office workers in South Korea.
Keeknee’s works capture moments of communicating with family, friends, colleagues, and sometimes complete strangers. On a day exhausted by life, a single word or a thoughtful gesture from someone can make one's heart soften, making life feel worth living. Because they contain such warmth, you find yourself smiling as you follow Keeknee’s works. Sometimes, your nose might even sting with emotion.
Artist Keeknee, who usually appears in public wearing a mask that depicts his own character, appeared at the press conference on this day in a 'simple' look, wearing only glasses and a mask. The artist said, "I've spent 7-8 years communicating with people online, seeing them cry and laugh, and I wanted to see those moments in person offline, which is why I held this exhibition." He added, "I worked hard to prepare an exhibition that I wouldn't be ashamed of. I hope this exhibition becomes the driving force for me to continue drawing with sincerity."
Hong Sung-il, CEO of G&C Media, who planned the exhibition, expressed his ambition to export the Keeknee exhibition abroad, stating, "We invested about twice as much in facilities for this exhibition compared to previous ones. We also translated the wordplay, which only Koreans could understand, into English."
'Keeknee Special Exhibition: Such a Relationship' will be held at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) Museum Exhibition Hall 1 in Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, from Saturday, April 25th to Sunday, September 6th. It is open daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM without any holidays. Simple drawings and writings are contained within various media, making it easy for people of all ages to enjoy. It will be an even more meaningful time, especially if you visit with family.