Van Gogh Reborn!

After visiting the WH Art Museum, I fell in love with Korean painting.

I spent the whole day just seeing the ancient art museum and couldn't stop by any other places, but now I am happy just studying Korean painting.

I came in contact with oriental art through Japanese ukiyo-e, which was popular in Paris at the time. 

Even though they were neighbouring countries, the styles of painting in Korea and Japan were completely different.

While Japan used strong primary colours, Korea used colours more naturally.

In Korea, of course, there was also a very splendid style called Jinchae painting, but ink paintings with a large number of works generally capture a deep image in natural expressions.

In particular, the painters Kim Hongdo and Shin Yunbok, who were introduced by grandfather, were very interesting because of the fact that they painted not only natural landscapes but also the daily lives of people at the time.

It is said that the person who painted the Genre paintings were recognized as the best painter in the country, so it can be seen that the Joseon Dynasty of Korea was quite open.

 “It’s Sumo.”

While I was reading a book of Korean traditional paintings, my grandfather approached me.

“I thought it was a boring picture to you.”

It's definitely not a pleasing picture.

However, it is a very interesting and meaningful work in terms of being able to empathize with it.

Is it possible to connect with people who are more than 300 years old.?

“ It’s fun. People's faces are fun too. What does the two people in the middle doing?"

They seem to hold onto each other and fight. 

“That’s Sumo wrestling. It’s a sport where you have to knock your opponent out of the field.”

It's like wrestling.

“What is the person with a box in his hand handing out.?”

"I don't know if he’s handing out or not, but probably he’s selling a candy."

“Candy….?”

"yes. It’s a hard, sweet snack.”

“Is it delicious?"

“ Taffy is delicious. But it can cause cavities and break your teeth, so you have to eat in moderation.”

I don't know how delicious it is, but to eat it at the risk of breaking a tooth.

I asked Grandfather looking at the painting.

“What are these guys doing?”

“They are betting who will win the match.”

The artist named Kim Hongdo, painted this painting to understand the daily life of the people during that time.

A picture that’s a letter from his heart.

It is fun to think about what the hearts and daily lives of the people depicted in the picture will be like, while enjoying the sports.

“It’s amazing that he was able to be recognized as the best painter even if he drew a Genre painting like this.”

"Genre?"

"Yes. Genre paintings are usually said to be of low grade.” 

Grandpa looks at me strangely.

“what….?”

"It's difficult for you to understand. Who told you that..? Did Sooji tell you?"

“Sooji.? Whose sooji.?”

“ Your Dad."

There’s  no other way to explain this, so I just nodded.

“Do you even know why they gave the painting such a rating?”

I shook my head because I thought it would be suspicious if I said I knew.

Then grandfather started to explain with a smile.

“The Royal Academy of Fine Arts of France was built by Louis XIV. He dreamed of a very powerful monarchy and tried to put everything in the country under his control. Art was no exception.”

That's right.

“He was trying to cultivate painters who praised the king.”

That filthy pig, stricken with greed, hoped to become a god just because reigned over France.

All artistic activities were forced in the direction of idolizing him.

“As a result, Painters drew a heroic figures that were considered loyal to the king and to the country.”

“It’s shitty.”

"Yes. shitty… hey! Do not use such bad words.”

“Hmmm. But still it’s shitty”

I laughed while saying shitty again and grandfather who was glaring at me also started laughing.

"Anyway. The ruins of the French Royal Academy of Fine Arts continue to this day. It dominated the art world at the time, and it was followed in Spain and England, so it is deeply rooted. It’s really sad.”

Artists a generation ahead of me showed courage in fighting against such a trend.

Although they were ridiculed severely, they fought proudly, and this will became a model for many artists such as me, Lautrec, and Paul Gauguin.

And yet, the evil still continues.

As grandfather said, it is really sad.

“How about now?”

"Hmm. For example, even now making plaster statues is a teaching method that continues at the Royal Academy of Art. In fact, you don't have to draw such an ideal figure of plaster to describe something accurately.”

Grandpa is right.

The reason they made the plaster statues was to draw the heroized characters repeatedly in the name of enhancing the descriptive power.

It hides the meaning of being loyal to the state and the king.

At that time, even the style of painting was made to imitate Poussin and Rubens, so the academy-born painter was nothing more than a technician, not a painter.

Much of that has now disappeared, but it is bittersweet that the teaching methods they left behind are still there.

“Did you understand…..was it too difficult a story for our Hun.”

“I understand. You are saying that the academy is a ……SCAM.”

“Ha ha ha ha….this guy. Do you know that your grandfather is also a professor teaching at an academy, so am I a scammer?”

“My grandfather didn’t teach me that way, so I can tell just by looking he’s an outstanding painter, scholar, and educator, who care about art and don’t teach students like the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in France.

“This little guy. You really know it well.”

Grandpa ruffled my hair and scratched his eyes. 

Then I turned my attention to the collection of Korean paintings again.

As I kept looking at Kim Hongdo and Shin Yunbok's paintings, I also wanted to paint pictures with the ink.

“ Little Hun..Do you want to draw an Ink painting..?”

“Yes..yes, I want to ?”

I was so shocked by the question that I involuntarily answered

“Okay then, come follow your Grandpa.”

I followed grandfather to his studio.

The pizza drawing in his room has progressed a bit more than yesterday.

I can't help but admire it every time I see it. 

For the first time, I am practicing to describe in detail using coloured pencils, but I have a long way to go to reach that level.

But I will reach it.

Grandpa took out two black stones from a drawers in the corner of the table.

One is flat and one is long.

I didn't know what he was doing, so I just looked at it and held it in my hand.

It’s heavy. 

“This flat one is called inkstone, and this one is called Inkstick. You put water in the inkstone and grind Inkstick."

This is a fairly classic method of grinding pigments and folding them in water.

Even I bought the paints from a merchant, so I am looking forward to what kind of paintings I can draw with this old method.

“Come here, this is a brush.”

The brush is also quite different from the objects I used.

In the Netherlands and France, the hair is short and stiff, but this one is quite long and full of hair.

If you apply force, you can write very thickly, but if you do not control the force well, it may ruin the picture.

“Do you have a thin brush?”

"Yeah. There are brushes at three different sizes."

Art has developed, but still, the size of the brush cannot be fixed.

When drawing coloured paintings, there is a separate brush that is effective for applying pigments, and it seems that ink paintings are drawn using a long brush that has rich, soft hair.

It will take considerable effort to master.

“Look carefully, Grandpa will show you a demonstration.”

“Yes."

Grandpa added water to the inkstone and grinded the Inkstick.

Just attach the cross section to the inkstone and slowly grind in one direction, so that the water gradually turns black.

It is a new feeling to come in contact with such an old method, which has been practiced more than 130 years ago.

“Is it Interesting.?”

"Yes. Does Grandpa prepare like this when you were painting?”

"Yes. The pigment will be finely ground and mixed with water.”

Concentration is definitely an important ingredient. Since there is a lot of water, there is a limit to what can be applied over it.

Then how about the viscosity

I got curious, and I dipped my finger in ink and ate it.

Viscosity is barely felt. 

While I was thinking about what to do, whether, I should grind it a little more or reduce the water, Grandpa opens his bubbly eyes as if they are about to pop out at any moment.

“This boy! Why did you eat it!”

“ Because I want to see how it feels.”

There is no better part than the tongue to understand the characteristics of paint.

Because it has a better sense of touch.

“Spit it out now!”

“Aku…Ak.. Aku!”

Grandpa suddenly hugged me from behind and pressed my stomach tight. 

I don’t think Sumo wrestling will be this intense either.

"waaaa."

“Spit it out.! vomit!”

It hurts so much that I can't even breathe, but after repeating it several times, I got nausea.

“Move it.”

It stopped only after spitting black spit on the floor.

I got dizzy.

“It’s going to be a big deal.! uh? If you pick up anything and eat it, you're in trouble! Do you eat it because there is nothing to eat.?”

I don't know why he is scolding me like that. 

My surprised grandfather took me to the bathroom and washed me.

Even after tidying up the, he continued to emphasize it.

“You can’t eat that. huh? Promise me….Promise to Grandpa.”

“Why….why can’t I eat it?”

It was common in my days as Vincent van Gogh.

To check the state of the paint, you can touch it with your hand or, if necessary, check whether the viscosity or oil has separated with your tongue.

“Because it’s bad for you!!”

After thinking about it, I asked.

“Pigments are obtained from nature anyway. The oil they put in oil paints is also taken out of what we eat. So what’s bad”

Grandpa looked at me like I was crazy.

“Little Hun, this food is the soot that is left over from burning grass and hardened into stone.”

I don't know what's bad.

“Besides, if there is no problem with the body even after eating something made out of stone, then no one in this world will starve to death. Don’t you think.? 

Well………It’s definitely not good to eat stones.

“Moreover…… Even your favourite Van Gogh died because of eating paint!”

"……..what?"

I heard an unexpected story.

“What are you talking about?”

“Even if the paint looks pretty, there are some scary things in it. Do you know what lead is?”

I don’t know.

Shaking my head, grandfather sighed deeply.

“Don’t even think about eating paint. The mineral that contains lead is very lethal to the human body.”

"How is it?"

“At first, your gums will hurt and you can't even eat the pizza you like."

“……”

“ Later, the gums hurt even more and you couldn't even chew food properly."

Wait….I have experienced similar symptoms.

At that time, whenever I tried to eat, the bread was so tough and hard that it was possible to eat only a little of it by adding water.

“ That’s not all? Your stomach will hurt and you will experience anaemia. do you know anaemia? Suddenly, you will lose sight and collapse.”

It's a little embarrassing, but these are all symptoms I've experienced.

“All this because of eating some paint?”

“Yes! Most of the artists at that time died of lead poisoning. Beethoven and Van Gogh.”

A master famous for his eccentric personality as well as his skills died of lead poisoning.

“Did Beethoven also eat paint?” 

“Why is that person eat paint.!?”

“At that time, sweeteners added to wine contained lead. Beethoven and Van Gogh could have drunk wine. So Hun…. you should never drink alcohol when you grow up. Understand?"

I didn't even know what was bothering me, I just felt sad and angry.

Regrettably, I sometimes resented the god for giving him such an ordeal.

But all of this was due to ignorance.

I can not believe it.

“Is there anything else caused by lead besides hurting my gums and stomach?”

“Well…! When it gets worse, it touches the peripheral nerves and messes with the inside of the body. Because of that, the body becomes paralyzed, or a mental disorder occurs.”

“……”

The thing that stole the painting from me was a substance called lead.

I drank it myself, not forced by anyone else.

I died of ignorance

It's stupid and it's self-inflicted.

How stupid i was

“Hey, boy. Hun. why are you crying? huh? Did your grandfather make you so scared?"

I shook my head.

“I told you because I love you, because I was worried. huh?”

Misunderstanding aggravated as he wiped my tears.

If it wasn't for Grandfather, I would have done the stupid thing again, not knowing I was getting hurt.

I have to learn.

I don't want to face an end filled with regret and bitterness like before.

Crayons, coloured pencils, ink.

I don't know how many things I want to do in this limitless world full of different paints and other things I don't know.

When I leave this world as Ko Hun, I will never leave any regret as I did when I was Vincent Van Gogh.