By Honorary Reporter Seema Thomas from India and Foteini Chatzoudi from Greece
Photos = Sam Cox

Running from Sept. 1 to Oct. 12, the Hangeul International Pre-Biennale has turned the town of Jochiwon in Sejong into a stage for artistic explorations of the alphabet Hangeul. 

Organized by the Sejong city government and the Sejong Foundation for Culture and Tourism, the event is being at six historical venues with 39 artists from Korea, the U.K., Uruguay and Singapore. Under the theme "Drawing Words, Connecting Lives," it showcases installations, media art, virtual and augmented reality works, and live performances.

A highlight is British artist Mr. Doodle's largest live drawing at the Jochiwon 1927 Art Center. Born Sam Cox, he is recognized internationally for his "graffiti spaghetti" style, where playful figures and shapes flow on canvases, gallery walls, clothing, cars and even his home.

He has collaborated with global brands like Puma, Fendi and Samsung and his large murals appear in global cities such as London, New York and Brussels. In Korea, he is experimenting with Hanji (traditional paper) and reimagining Hangeul characters using his doodle style for the Pre-Biennale.

The following are excerpts from an email interview with Cox from Sept. 4-16. 

Why did you decide to participate in the Hangeul International Pre-Biennale?
I have always loved how Hangeul looks since first seeing it in Seoul in 2018 in advertisements on busy streets, signs and shop fronts. As someone from outside Korea, I have always found Hangeul aesthetically captivating.

British doodle artist Sam Cox poses in front of his massive mural he created live on Sept. 2 at the outer wall of the Jochiwon 1927 Art Center in the town of Jochiwon in Sejong.

Which Hangeul words did you choose to doodle and why?

For the works inside the exhibition space, I collaborated with my brother and his Korean wife to create a word list that connected naturally to my art. For example, hwi means echo or vibration, evoking rhythm and emotional tremors; muk refers to traditional black ink, symbolizing rawness and tradition; seon means line, the essence of drawing and goodness and suggesting purity; and un embodies warmth, softness and comfort. I chose the words that appealed to me visually while also appreciating their deeper meanings.

How did working on Hanji compare to your usual canvases?

I really enjoyed experimenting with different types of Hanji, as it was a refreshing challenge. Some types were too thin and stuck to the surface beneath when painted, and others too thick and looked similar to my usual work. Eventually, I found one just right—sturdy enough to draw on yet thin enough for the doodles to show through the reverse side. This gave them an aged, almost ancient quality, creating a striking contrast with the more "pop-like" feel of my previous shows.

Mr. Doodle (Steve Cox) poses alongside his intricate doodle work on Hanji (traditional paper). 

Which part of blending Hangeul characters with your doodles was your favorite?
I drew the Hangeul first on the Hanji and worked around it with doodles. The most satisfying part of the process was watching the patterns fill the space around Hangeul. It was as if the doodles were giving Hangeul a hug and welcoming it to DoodleLand.

Any plans to share?
I am working at a new studio in my garden, making new music, animation and all kinds of fun things. Lots of projects are going on at the moment. I'm having the most fun in the world doing what I love.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article was 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.