part 1
In the midst of life


I linger my gaze on individuals standing at the center of life within everyday landscapes. While landscapes and people are inevitably interconnected, interpreting this relationship relies entirely on my own perspective and sensitivity. This subjective interpretation, stemming from within me, permeates the world through the medium of painting.

What I depict are 'familiar strangers.' These are beings who are different yet somehow similar to me—mothers, grandfathers, delivery workers, people walking their dogs, or those in prayer—ordinary individuals I pass by in daily life. Their images become mirrors reflecting the latent memories and emotions within the audience, giving rise to diverse interpretations through various perspectives.

I cannot know the entirety of their lives, but I capture fleeting moments and infuse them with universal emotions, completing my own narrative. In the swift rhythm of urban life, we often lose the capacity to truly notice others, but when this attention is transformed into affection, the scenery changes. Soft colors and delicate textures trace this affection and embody the sensibility I aim to express through painting.

By condensing the vast stage of the city into the focal point of 'myself,' these landscapes transcend mere observation to reveal universal values. All existence ultimately begins with my experiences, uncovering the abstract truths hidden beneath the surface of reality.

Time flows relentlessly, and everything eventually becomes the past. Yet, to gaze affectionately at the ephemeral moments surrounding life’s center is a vital act of reflecting on the meaning of existence. In granting narratives to distant strangers and rediscovering myself within them, this process transcends simple depiction, forging a renewed connection between myself and the world.



14–11–2023