Seven South Korean artists from Jeju Island exhibit their work in Chennai

In Jeju, South Korea’s largest volcanic island, each picturesque and populous, a gaggle of girls (some aged even upto 80 years) dives into the ocean to assemble shellfish like sea urchins and abalones. Called the Jeju haenyeo, these girls divers harvest for upto seven hours a day with out the assistance of an oxygen masks, making chicken call-like sounds as they floor. They characterize the silent resilience of Jeju, an island that’s geographically unstable. Back right here in Chennai, at InKo Centre’s bodily area, The Gallery, amorphous shapes paying homage to the human type that’s maybe mid-dive, are melded right into a picket, hollowed-out canvas by artist Anh Jin-hee: a placing, summary tribute to those very girls who embody the intangible cultural heritage of the island. Similarly, Oh Seung-eik’s reasonable landscapes that boast outlined brushstrokes, and minute detailing take us to Mount Hallasan, a defend volcano which can also be the very best level in South Korea. Thus, aspects of Jeju island, which can be testomony to a way of group and perseverance make up the show that has works of seven artists who reside and work in Jeju, in various mediums. 

The concept was to open the gallery with a show that presses on the significance of hope, whereas additionally being informative, says Rathi Jafer. While pure marvels type nearly all of the show, canvases that seize a less complicated time additionally make appearances. “We wanted to show the unique emotions of Jeju, including its history, culture and natural environment,” says Anh Jin-hee, including, “India and Jeju are similar in that they have numerous gods. We would like to take this opportunity to make another familiar and close relationship.” 

While portraying the weather that make Jeju what it’s, Jin-hee says that the try was to open a window into the lives of the individuals of the island as nicely.  Take Ko Eun’s Accept, as an example: the child-like innocence of the work comes by way of in its playful colours and acquainted characters. Her rendition of an aftermarket (a defunct volcanic cone that’s often seen round a mount, there are 368 of them in Jeju) is starkly completely different from Park Sung-jin’s take which reveals a snow-laden path dotted by volcanic rock formations. 

“The oreum, stone walls, wind, storms, sea, sun, and even the changing climate have become materials and subjects here. And among the people who embrace the sea, wind, stones, sun, and typhoons surrounding the island, are these artists,” provides Jin-hee.  Lee Su-mok’s collection titled Embrace the Light, is a deviation from the remainder of the frames, in that it makes an attempt to point out the Jeju of at present. Executed curiously on Korean rice paper, the laminated frames have an ephemeral high quality to them. In one, a bridge is the protagonist, set towards a grainy purple backdrop. 

Anh Jin-hee’s paintings
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Nature in Jeju can inform a whole lot of completely different tales. “In the painful stories about Jeju, Mt. Halla becomes a strong support that gives peace,” says Jin-hee. The mountain can also be a non secular image for the individuals of Jeju, says Jin-hee. “Hallasan is also diverse in its expressions, which change throughout the seasons and shows different appearances when you go around the island of Jeju.” 

Into the Light is on show until August 28 at The Gallery, InKo Centre, Adyar, and at Prism, their on-line gallery

Ko Eun’s Accept
| Photo Credit: particular association