In May, when Spring was in full swing, the word “life” suddenly crossed my mind as I saw the backs of three grandmothers sitting together amid brightly bloomed flowers. I stumbled upon this scene while walking along Bulgwangcheon. At that moment, the title of a novel I had long since forgotten began to surface. This novel, “In the Midst of Life,” had a tremendous emotional impact on me. This literary work, written in 1957 by the German writer Louise Linzer, tells the story of a woman named Nina, who lives bravely amidst upheaval. When I was young, I, too, dreamed of leading an artist’s life with the same unbreakable spirit Nina possessed. As time passes, we subsequently change and accept life as part of a great natural order, rather than something to be conquered.

There are moments in life when everyone feels burdened and overwhelmed. However, in hindsight, I realized that ‘life’ was quietly protecting me from within. This could have manifested as the spring breeze, the friendliness of a stranger, or even a small sense of relief amidst the throes of daily life. I don’t know how to accurately express the energy or touch of life or its invisible flow. Yet, we are still “in the midst of life” when we are shaken by such events and winds.

“In the Midst of Life,” which began based on these reasons, is an attempt to capture the lives of strangers through the medium of painting. I seek to observe and express the vitality of these individuals and the overall energy of their surrounding environments. I painted many scenes that mainly observe everyday moments of no significance to the person depicted. By depicting others’ fleeting, everyday moments, I can capture a third-person perspective of how each person’s life is in kind and warm hands. My paintings reflect the value of ‘love’ and ‘care.’ This act may be solidarity with painterly behavior, or it may be an attempt to find the will to live within painting.