I wanted to be an artist as in ‘The Bluebird.’

I dreamed as a young child, who had a passion to become a true artist 40 years ago. I vaguely thought I would be an artist after graduating from school, however, still I ask myself, “Am I an artist?”, after the amount of time has passed since I decided to be an artist.

I asked my mentor, “How can I become an artist?” And he answered, “You know you’re already an artist.” Then I said, “I mean, I’m talking about becoming a professional artist who only create art.” He replied, “Just do it.”

I said, “But, if I can’t sell my works how can I create a career?” He said, “So, do you want to earn money, then?” I said, “No, what I want is to do art.” He said, “Then, just do it.” I realized that he was right! After wandering for a long time, I got the answer, “Just do it.”

Longing for the things that I have lost leads to the obsesssion about making sculptures with hands. A feeling of longing about the things that I would touch -A clay caldron lid that I had made by the river but couldn’t find it later, white-backed flyers that I collected instead of drawing paper, 12 colored crayons, the rags picked up from my mom’s dress shop, the attics at Western-style house in Imun-dong where I would play with the paper doll, do numerous cut and paste, and having fun with hiding and playing.

I think it is okay to live with the difficult homework that takes a long time to solve and meet myself who is growing endlessly and have a playground that I am never tired of.

A quote from Tao TeChing says that ‘For the peaceful world, everyone needs to be like a log.’I wanted to make audacious works without pretense or showing up. What I pursue is the works of primitive art, archaism, and life. The sources of my works are humans and nature. My works have been focusing on understanding the reasons of the times and finding Korean through ‘existing people’ as a historical and cultural evidence.

Finding the profound meaning relating to me starts from ‘Who am I?’ Where do I come from? What is the fundamental energy that consists of me? What is my historic root engraved in me like a bar code? The cultural field trip starting from 1992 has made my eyes and given topics to my works.

It was a cultural shock that ‘The Three-story Stone Pagodas’ which almost got ruined at Gameunsaji Temple Site has more an unique aura and energy than the perfect and beautiful Seokgatap at Bulguksa Temple. I felt as if I had gone back over 1,000 years before and become a person from Silla Kingdom when I was sitting and feeling the energy from the ruined temple.

△Written by Kim Gyungwon(글=조각가 김경원)

◇ARTIST KIM GYEONG WON

Graduated from Seoul Arts High School / B.F.A College of Arts, Ewha Womans Univ. Seoul/ M.F.A Graduate School of Ewha Womans Univ. Seoul

△Solo Exhibition

Mother Maria(pyunghwa Gallery), The Meal in Dream(hagajae Gallery),humans, into the claymates(united Gallery) ect.

△김경원 작가는 서울예고와 이화여자대학교 미술대학 동양화과 및 동대학원 동양화과를 졸업했다. 평화화랑, 방배동성당, 학아재, 유나이티드갤러리 등에서 개인전을 가졌다.