For Inhwa Han, the city of Busan is a living, evolving landscape filled with personal history. Growing up in Busanjin-gu, she experienced the city’s cultural heartbeat firsthand, from school movie days in Seomyeon to late-night conversations on Pojangmacha Street. Travels abroad revealed the uniqueness of Busan’s urban rhythm, solidifying the deep connection between city and identity. Even as the skyline transforms, fragments of Inhwa’s past remain firmly embedded in those familiar streets.

In this piece, Inhwa portrays a Busan native whose hairstyle mimics a map of the city, containing within it the intricate streetscape of Seomyeon. The neon glow of signboards, the mix of old and new architecture, and the ceaseless movement of people form a layered urban tapestry. Often overlooked, everyday spaces become places of nostalgia, reflection, and significance. Through this work, Inhwa invites viewers to rediscover the city’s fleeting yet enduring essence, where past and present meet in a single glance.

For Teyup Ryu, the 700-year-old Ginkgo Tree of Yonggye-ri is a living testament to resilience and the enduring spirit of the Korean people. According to legend, the ginkgo has whispered in solidarity during times of national suffering, its presence offering comfort and strength. Once fiercely protected by eco-warriors led by Tak Sun-chang, the tree remains a symbol of unwavering perseverance, honored annually by Tak’s descendants. In his Dreaming Tree series, Teyup pays homage to this mighty guardian, drawing inspiration from its deep roots and towering presence.

Beyond the ginkgo, Teyup’s work explores the theme of “Taking Off” and the act of reaching for something greater. His paintings depict individuals striving for elevation in both a physical and spiritual sense, embracing movement, ambition, and transformation. With bold compositions and a sense of boundless possibility, Teyup invites his audience to believe in their own potential, take a leap of faith, and soar.

For Yeong Ok Kim, the mountains of Korea are more than landscapes; they are sources of wisdom, energy, and transformation. Inspired by travels to Jeongseon, Jirisan, and Baekdusan, her work captures the fleeting impressions of nature: the dreamlike haze of water, the sun sinking as if ending its life, and the profound stillness of the peaks. These elements transport her to an unfamiliar yet deeply resonant world, where each mountain reveals a lesson about resilience and renewal.

Baekdu Mountain, the spiritual head of Baekdudaegan, has long been revered as a force of nature, its volcanic origins shaping the land over millennia. Though South Koreans can only visit via China, Yeong Ok found solace in southern reaches of Baekdudaegan, where mist and moonlight offered profound moments of introspection. To her, the mountains are life itself, unchanging yet ever-evolving in a way that guides her artistic vision and personal journey.

Nestled in the rolling hills of Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do, Samyang Ranch is Korea’s largest organic pasture, where vast green meadows stretch beneath the towering wind turbines, blending modernity with nature. Sheep graze peacefully along the mountainside, creating a serene and timeless landscape.

In early autumn, Eun Young Son visited the ranch with her elderly mother, whose declining mobility made each step precious. Yet, as the wind carried the clouds across the sky, she felt as if she were soaring alongside them. That day, the clouds were so “Mong-gul Mong-gul,” or soft and dreamlike, as Koreans would say. Though her mother can no longer walk the pastures, she holds on to those cherished moments, revisiting the ranch time and again in the land of dreams.

Sangsun Lee’s abstract works flow freely beyond genre, reflecting the emotional agitation that fuels his creative process. For him, confidence sparks imagination, and each moment holds the potential for something new. When inspiration wanes, he embraces silence and seeks the hidden diversity beneath the surface. His paintings embody unpredictability and imperfection, blending rough and smooth textures with shifting brightness and saturation. As memories and intentions converge mid-flow, his liberated forms take shape with a passionate and curious gaze.

Rooted in the landscapes of Gampo and Sokcho, Sangsun’s work carries the essence of Korea’s East Sea and Gangwon Province. The towering mountains, vast ocean, and bustling street markets of Sokcho pulse through his compositions, while childhood memories of fishing at Gaetbawi Rock under Songdaemal Lighthouse infuse his art with nostalgia. Whether riding along the Han River or gazing at the horizon, his creative spirit thrives in the ever-changing interplay of land, sea, and sky.

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