HELENA

This work captures the essence of Seoul through the visual language of traditional Korean painting. Iconic elements of the city, including the N Seoul Tower, the Han River, and the mountains and trees that shape Seoul’s landscape, are distilled into abstract forms using ink wash (sumukhwa) and vibrant mineral pigments (bunchae) on hanji, handmade Korean paper.

Transcending a literal depiction of the city, the composition extracts its symbolic essence. Inspired by ornamental patterns found in traditional Korean architecture, the Han River becomes the central motif, around which the visual rhythm of the work unfolds.

Korean aesthetics are not defined by a single surface or texture, but by the coexistence of many, much like the layered interplay of bibimbap, a traditional Korean dish that brings together rice, vegetables, meat, and other ingredients in a single bowl. Bibimbap serves as a metaphor for Seoul itself, a city shaped by multiple layers, textures, and rhythms of old and new.

Using obangsaek, the five colors of Korean traditional color theory, the work employs varied brushwork and painting techniques. Each color is associated with elements of nature and symbolic meanings such as vitality, protection, and good fortune. Through expressive colors, layered textures, and the tactile qualities of ink and pigment, the work conveys the vibrant and multifaceted character of Seoul.