Choi Kwang captures the landscapes of his land in the works of Mountains of Korea

The sample Korean mountains, by the artist Choi Kwang Hee, is a journey that transcends the rural landscapes of what is currently the most popular Asian nation in the world. Composed of about 16 paintings created using the hanji-juk technique – which uses recycled pulp from different papers – which gives the paintings a sense of three-dimensionality that allows them to replicate both stone textures and natural landscapes.

“I was working for two years to finish the pieces; the color and shapes of the landscapes always caught my attention. The mountains have a very special meaning for me, because I see how they remain over time, but not without changes. They are like us in this aspect,” commented the artist in an interview with The Day.

When he was about to finish the project, Choi Kwang learned that there was a possibility of showing his pieces in Mexico. On his first visit he explored the archaeological zone of Teotihuacan, and now he has great interest in the images of Catholicism, the religion under which he grew up.

“I don’t believe in coincidences, but in synchronicity. During this project I went through very complicated moments, among them the Covid pandemic. I was researching religious topics; then, Mexico appeared with this proposal for the exhibition, the same place where the mother of God was revealed right in front of a small mountain: the Virgin of Guadalupe. That moved me very much,” he said.

Although Korea is a mainly atheist country, and original shamanism and Buddhism have exerted great historical influence, there is currently an upswing in the presence of Christian variants. This also inspired the artist: “I realized that there was something in my paintings that brought me closer to that concept between divinity and nature. There is no religious image in my paintings; visual language gives us the tools to feel the warmth that brings us closer to those ideas, it gives us a sense of unity as people.

“I always wanted to come to Mexico because it seems like a mystical place to me. I realize this despite being in such a big city. It seems to me that in its surroundings there is a natural world that is beautiful.

“On a sunny day you can see the mountains and volcanoes in the distance, and that dialogue between urban and nature is what I like the most,” Kwang Hee acknowledged excitedly.

Hanji-juk is a technique that uses the pulp of the paper used for Korean calligraphy, performed with brushes and traditional paint (known as byoru). The discarded papers were used by the artist to give volume to these paintings. Choi Kwang Hee has more than a thousand works made with this and other techniques to his credit.

The clouds, trees, memories of his childhood are the center of these pieces. For her, the painting is a mix between memories and the present: “in my mind there is always the Seorak-san mountain. It is not the largest, but it is emblematic for me for the wonderful visions of colors that can be admired during the change of the seasons. It is a message from life to us, that existence is a variety of nuances, but all with a particular beauty,” she concluded.

The sample Korean mountains, by the artist Choi Kwang Hee, will be open to the public at the Korean Cultural Center (Temístocles 122, Polanco neighborhood, Miguel Hidalgo mayor’s office) until February 28, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 to 6 p.m. Admission is free.