Sayart.net
Jason Yim yimjongho1969@gmail.com
“Who knows if a strawberry exploded and created the universe in the beginning?” It is the that’s-so-random cosmology that the painter Chung Chung-sik speaks.
It's a joke, but the universe and various fruits, especially strawberries, often appear in his paintings. As I looked around the exhibition hall a couple of times, the universe and fruits drawn on the canvas seemed to be one for a moment, as if they were the main characters or supporting characters.
 |
| ▲ cycle - cultural landscape, oil on canvas, 2022, 60 x 120cm, Courtesy of Vichae Art Museum |
Like a physicist, he continued to tell unfamiliar stories from Quantum mechanics to Multiverse theory. “If you eliminate both the short and the long time, in the end everything is connected by a single cycle. Actually, everything might be one,” he said. In fact, what he said is an explanation of his world of art. His art world is connected to the universe.
His idea that everything could be one has a similar meaning to the ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi's “Hujeophunmong (胡蝶春夢) Zhangjizhimong (莊周之夢).” Zhuangzi dreamed that he became a butterfly and flew around. Later, when he woke up, it was difficult for Zhuangzi to tell whether the butterfly had become himself from the dream. In other words, what Zhuangzi's dream story or painter Chung said means "this is that and that is this," meaning that everyone can be one.
 |
| ▲ painter Chung Chung-sik, Courtesy of UPIKorea |
Regarding the reason for drawing fruits in the painting, Chung said, “I thought that the subject itself was difficult and that drawing people would be confusing. That's why I painted fruits. Fruit is a good subject because even a single seed of the fruit can explain the principle of cosmic circulation.”
In fact, he stopped painting for over 10 years. It is to lead the Korean peoples art sharing Association’.
“Koreans have gone through a painful history. During the Japanese colonial era, some people had to cross the Pacific Ocean as an anime and live in Mexico or Cuba. I believe that culture has no borders. I thought it was necessary to establish an international cultural territory for the development of Korean culture. In order to build an international cultural network for Koreans scattered all over the world, I ran in 19 countries around the world for decades. Later, they gathered together and exhibited. We were all so moved that we hugged and cried together. ” He said.
 |
| ▲ cycle-Extinction, Birth, Oil on canvas, 2022, 60 x 120cm, Courtesy of Vichae Art Museum |
One day, he saw a goldfish he saw in an elementary school pond and found enlightenment. “Wouldn’t humans live thinking that the goldfish-carrying earth is everything in the world? Where did the goldfish come from and where did it go? ” He thought, and eventually, after many thoughts like this, he came to the idea that “everything is connected with the cycle of the universe and is one.” At that time, he could feel the instinct as a painter to paint this realization again. And He started his career as a painter again.
“When I was young, I often drew pictures about social issues. In my 40s, I painted everything from still life to landscape paintings to earn money. It was sold, according to the drawing, so it was strange at the time. ” He said.
 |
| ▲ Circulation-you and me, us, oil on canvas, 2022, 131x162cm, Courtesy of Vichae Art Museum |
As he held the brush in his hand again, he began to paint, staying up all night as if doing overdue homework.
As if he were a philosopher or a physicist, he spoke seriously about various topics, and said, “It is enough for the audience to enjoy it.” Regardless of his intentions, he wants the audience to freely understand his works.
Although he draws fruits now, he said that he would like to put people on the canvas instead of fruits later.
He was a gifted kid drawing in middle school. A teacher in the art department made him enter the path of an artist. Later, he studied painting at the Graduate School of Fine Arts at Hongik University and embarked on a career as a professional painter.
 |
| ▲ Circulation, oil on canvas, 2020, 72 x 40cm, Courtesy of Vichae Art Museum |
He has collaborated with famous galleries in Korea, such as Worm Gallery and Ghana Insa Art Center, and has held several solo exhibitions to inform the audience of his painting style.
His activities were not confined to Korea. He held a solo exhibition at the ‘2012 Art Miami’ art fair in the US, and he was selected as the main screen artist as ‘ART INTERNATIONAL ZURICH 2012’ in Switzerland.Currently, his solo exhibition is being held at the 'Vichae Art Museum' in Bangbae-dong, Seocho-GU, Seoul. The title of the exhibition is ‘Silent Life’. The exhibition continues until December 15th.
