By Honorary Reporter Donatella Astolfi from Italy
Photos = Tae Woo

As a fan of Korean artists for their original and unique styles, I am particularly impressed by the works of Art Studio Grimmgrida. 

Thus I decided to interview the studio's artist Tae Woo, the winner of the fifth edition of the KBS2 reality TV show "No Money, No Art." His acclaimed piece has been used in a credit card design by Korea's Shinhan Card. 

The following are the excerpts from a Dec. 28 email interview with him.

Tae Woo works at his studio using fabric and ink according to Korean tradition.

Why do you become an artist?
The first time I held a brush, I was 5. My father was the captain of a fishing vessel and had a traditional Oriental painter among his crew. While working on my father's boat and staying at my house, the painter painted in his room. Whenever he did it, I'd watch by his side with a curious face. Seeing me like that, he starting showing me how to hold a brush and taught me Oriental painting a bit. From that point on, I naturally thought I should be a painter.

Tae Woo says he gained inspiration for his art from his wife and children. 

Why do you choose to show nature and landscapes in your works? 

I want to lie down and swim in the mountains and rivers by drawing these landscapes and bringing them to my place. And I want to create meaning by communicating with the landscape in that space. Through this, my mind achieves its most pleasant state. 

What I want to accomplish through my work isn't just inheriting the old but embracing the good of the old and preserving it to the present day.

The tiger and other animals are often subjects of Tae Woo's works. 

Why do you often use animals such as the tiger in your works?

The tiger symbolizes me, the breadwinner of my family, and Nup-sae (Lying Bird) my wife and our two daughters. My family is the inspiration for my work. The first time I drew Nup-sae was when my wife was pregnant with my first child. She was lying down because she was having a hard time and almost due. She said she wanted to eat figs, but I couldn't buy them because we couldn't afford them at the time. 

Instead, I drew a bird with a bulging belly and a fig. Life grew more difficult after our first daughter was born. I suddenly remembered the old saying that the picture of a tiger expels bad energy. So I drew a tiger and hung it at my studio and cafe space. Luckily, my work started to sell at exhibitions and I got more requests for it. 

What projects are you planning?
As I've done so far, I want to continue including the stories of this era through my style of painting. I will strive to have people not only in Korea but also abroad recognize my work. 

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.