Jankura Artspace hosts final drawing event
Artists participate in the “Jankura's Rhapsody” Queen-themed figure-drawing session at Jankura Artspace on July 6 in Seoul. / Courtesy of Jankura Artspace
By Jon Dunbar
in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood has been winding down its final days since last month, and its closing event this weekend approaches.
The studio, best known for its art classes, is going out this Saturday the way it came in: with two model sessions. They even booked the same model who posed at the opening session in 2012.
“Jankura was created as a space where artists and art lovers could gather to either practice or learn art in an open and safe environment,” Mike Stewart, owner of Jankura, told The Korea Times. “As an artist I've always found having an outlet to explore my creativity essential and I wanted to help those who couldn't do that within the Korean language system. It was definitely a niche as the people who come in are those with an interest in art or art making who can speak at least minimal English.”
Stewart announced the closing of Jankura's doors on social media a couple months back. In a recent interview he cited three main factors: “the relocation of Yongsan military base (where a lot of our workshop attendees came from), the changing expat community, plus the difficulties of promoting classes and events on existing web platforms that used to be great for getting the word out.”
He added, “All of this and more has made it no longer possible for the studio is support itself in its current design.”
The art space,
named after Stewart's high school art teacher
Cheryl Jankura, fostered a laid-back atmosphere that encouraged artists of all skill levels and brought together people from all walks of life over the last seven and a half years.
“So many people have come in throughout the years and lots of friendships have formed here,” Stewart said. “We do have a lot of Koreans joining our classes and events, and if someone can't speak English I break out my own Korean skills to help them, but in general it's an English language-centered studio.”
The studio differentiated itself by offering innovative and creative events, finding interesting new ways to engage people with various activities.
“We've had so many events but I think our fundraisers were always fun and worthwhile,” he said. “We have special drawing events all the time with themes, costumes storyboards and the like which are quite different from classical figure drawing classes. This has set us apart from other studios around the world as it's like watching a performance that you can draw.”
Jankura Artspace has two remaining events. This Friday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. it's hosting “
,” offering a “pirate/drag” figure drawing event.
offers two two-hour model drawing sessions, one with nude long poses and the other featuring nude and semi-nude mixed poses. Afterwards, it's a free-for-all where anyone is welcomed to jump on stage. Each session is 10,000 won or 20,000 won for both, and drinks will be available. Due to the nude figure drawing the event is adults only.
Stewart says he will keep busy with art after Jankura's closing, especially as he has a solo exhibition scheduled for July 26 at Itaewon's Red Gallery.
“I won't slow down as an artist,” he said. “I will be taking a much needed rest, however, which will allow me some time to explore my options.”
He plans to take an art therapy certification course and spend more time painting and drawing outside.
“After I feel I've rested enough, I'll start considering locations and concepts for a new art space,” he said. “It'll definitely be something more streamlined, more community- and therapy-based, but it will still hold true to the Jankura spirit.”
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