 Jae J. Rhee is holding her first solo show at Art & Museum Gallery. / Courtesy of the artist |
Staff Reporter
Chairs hold a special meaning for artist Jae J. Rhee. Tiny chairs made of toothpicks fill the canvas of her artworks, currently on display at her solo show ``Missing You'' at the Art & Museum Gallery, Yeoksam, Gangnam.
``The chair is a symbol of the place I can return to, like home. It's like I can always come back to the chair. It has a special meaning for me. When I was away from my then-boyfriend for six months, and he sent me a picture of the two empty chairs we used to sit in at his garden. It was very touching for me,'' she told The Korea Times over coffee in Chungmuro, Tuesday.
In her artwork, the chairs represent the artist's memories of heartbreak and loss. Rhee admitted those painful memories influenced the choice of toothpicks to create the chairs.
``I tried various materials to make the chairs, like chopsticks, but toothpicks are perfect. The toothpick has a sharpened tip. It reflects the pain in my heart. At the gallery opening, one of the staff touched the work, and got hurt from touching the toothpick. There was blood. It's the painful touch that I wanted to express,'' she said.
 This is one of the "Missing You" works by Jae J. Rhee displayed at her solo show. / Courtesy of the artist |
Rhee is an accomplished graphic designer who has worked in the U.S., U.K. and Mexico, but a few years ago she returned to Korea and decided to indulge in her real passion: art.
Her art is obviously very personal. She tries to convey stories about her life and love on canvas. She even uses old handwritten letters from family, friends, and lovers as the background for the toothpick chairs.
Even the title of the exhibition ``Missing You,'' reflects her feelings and how much she misses her family and friends.
``Everyone asks me, who is you. Everyone has someone they miss like your brother or father. I was away from Korea for a long time, and I missed my family, friends and boyfriend,'' Rhee said.
Creating art was a form of catharsis for Rhee. She has been sorting over her past experiences especially the loss of two close loved ones over a 48-hour period.
Starting work on an empty white canvas, Rhee revealed, was like going to confession before a priest.
``I was happy to put aside my past sins and create my artwork. For a long time I felt very guilty about their deaths, but during the opening of the exhibition, I could feel my guilt melting away,'' she said.
The exhibition runs through Aug. 6 at Art & Museum Gallery, 1st floor Rubina Building, Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam. Call (02) 561-6613.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr
