By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Print art is often overlooked in the contemporary art scene, which is why the Korea Print Art Promotion Committee (KPAPC) continues to seek out and support young print artists.
Five female artists were recently chosen as finalists for the KPAPC's 12th Belt New Artists Promotion Project 2008. ``Belt'' is meant to symbolize the KPAPC's role in promoting and developing print art by linking the artists, galleries and the public.
Kwon Hye-jeong, Kim So-hee, Shin Kyoung-hee, Cho Hyun-suk and Choi Sun-joo are currently exhibiting their works at Gallery Artside, Dong San Gallery and Hana Art Gallery in Insa-dong. The exhibitions run through Jan. 15.
The Korea Times talked with some of the artists about the themes in their works.
Kwon said her highly detailed etchings, such as ``Never Ending Story,'' deal with relationships. ``It's about how I meet people, and what I feel when I meet them. I have different feelings like loneliness, happiness when I meet someone. I try to symbolize it in my work,'' she said.
Kim's etchings, ``Sick of People,'' and ``A Morning Subway'' are also exquisitely detailed and delicately colored. Kim said her works reflect her dislike of crowded places. ``I don't like areas with lots of people, but in the city there are not a lot of areas where you can be alone. The work (``Sick of People'') shows how I think of lumping people together, so I can find a comfort zone where there are no people,'' she said.