Mariam Nihal

Saudi Gazette

Korean artist Chae Sung-Pil believes that the duty of an artist is to create beauty so strong that it can be shared and understood by everyone. He even makes his own paints and brushes.



Born in 1972, Sung-Pil grew up on a small island in South Korea.



“When I was 15,” he told Saudi Gazette, “I had to relocate to Seoul, where I attended the Seoul National University, obtaining a degree in Oriental Arts. In 2003, I moved to France to study for my doctorate, and I haven’t left since!” Sung-Pil grew up in a beautiful native Island and described moving to Seoul as the most difficult period of his childhood. “Having to relocate to a big city was very difficult, especially for a teenager who was so nostalgic about nature and a slower pace of life. After relocating, I realized that my house and my small island that made me so nostalgic, became a utopia that I could not go back to.”



So far this year, Sung-Pil showcased his work around the world at popular fairs including Art Paris, a solo show in Geneva, Switzerland and recently at Opera Gallery, in Dubai.



“After Dubai, I will have another two solo shows simultaneously in Paris and at the Cernuschi Museum in November. My work will also be shown as part of group shows during numerous art fairs.”



In his initial years, a very nostalgic Sung-Pil started painting his native island naturally, which till date remains to be his main source of inspiration. “It is deeply embedded in my heart. When I was little, we used to play on rich soil overlooking the blue sea, and I always dreamed of one day being able to paint these precious memories of my childhood. Living in France and being so far away from my native place, these memories are even more intensified. Maybe everybody holds a utopia in their heart, for me, it is the basis of my work, my childhood memories, my island, my soil, that I dream so much about.”



An interesting fact about the artist is that he collects soil from every place he visits.



“Based on my own personal life story, travel a lot and exchange with people as much as I can. I collect soil from all the places I have visited over the last 20 years. Soil and earth are the primary tools for my work, but they are also the image and the subject. My journey on earth is the beginning of my work, and I capture the spirit of nature through the soils collected during my travels. This is nothing extraordinary, but a very essential part of my work and journey into the future.”



When asked what remains to be integral to the work of an artist, he said: “This is a difficult question! This being said, I would say that the most important things for contemporary artists are originality and communication. The concept of contemporary art starts with negating the past. The artist needs to express himself using new techniques and materials, rather than repeat what had been done before. I believe that it is useless to unconditionally look for something new, but most importantly focus on something original. Communicating through creativity is essential to touch the public, and the artists’ needs to fully embrace originality.”



In his works, Sung-Pil feels the need to express patience and sincerity the most. “Infinite patience for the pain of creativity will bring out the truth in any artist, which will enable communication and originality to show in their work.”



He believes art transcends time and space. “We now live in a world that is virtually borderless, thanks to the Internet and new technologies. Art transcends race and religion, it is the best and probably the most noble medium to communicate nowadays, by discussing ideologies. I was born in Korea, live in France, and just had a show in Dubai!



Communicating is largely unrestricted, and artists can create a very strong sociological exchange, preaching love and peace through their body of work.”



Exactly 23 years ago, he started working with soil during his second year at university. “I painted the space of the earth using earth.



The visual outcome have changed over time, and I will obviously keep evolving as an artist, but will always retain using soil as the core of my work, because it is so profoundly embedded in me.” For him, earth and soil is a personal memory of his childhood, the nostalgia of his native country, which he carries with him through art. “Life as we know it begins and ends with earth. Also, earth is the most fundamental element of space, the most precious. I talk a lot about the importance of earth against modern civilization, expressed through my work.”



He believes the core of contemporary art is originality, because it does not limit art with creativity.