INTERVIEW Bek Hyun-jin: artist, actor and musician
Artist, musician and actor Bek Hyun-jin poses for a photo at his solo exhibition, “Beyond Words,” held at PKM Gallery in Jongno District, Seoul. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Park Han-sol
The film actor playing the memorable role of an incompetent company executive who earned his position via nepotism in “Samjin Company English Class” (2020); the lead vocalist of the avant-garde pop duo, “Uhuhboo Project” and “Bahngbek;” the performance artist and painter who was selected as one of the finalists for the prestigious 2017 Korea Artist Prize at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) ― these are all separate and distinct artistic identities Bek Hyun-jin juggles in his creative life.
It's difficult to describe the multi-talented Bek in one succinct sentence.
His ongoing solo exhibition, titled “Beyond Words,” at PKM Gallery in Jongno District, Seoul, offers a partial glimpse into Bek's multifaceted artistic endeavors, spanning over two decades.
“It's an exhibition that can't be explained in spoken or written language,” Bek told The Korea Times during a recent interview at the gallery, describing his decision to remove all of the text explanations that typically accompany similar art events.
As an actor and musician who confronts language on a regular basis in the form of scripts and lyrics, he explained, “I think it's possible for me to hold this type of exhibition because I'm trained in handling language in a literary way, and am sensitive to its usage. Therefore, I'm well aware of what exactly can't be described with it.”
Bek's exhibition "Beyond Words" at PKM Gallery / Courtesy of PKM Gallery
With no texts to dictate or confine how his works should be interpreted, 60 of his paintings, installations, music, videos and sculptures are presented like an open book to the audience.
Comparing his artworks to 'jeotgal,' a salt-cured seafood side dish, and the audience to a person of foreign nationality who has never tried it, Bek encourages them to freely decipher his pieces without overwhelming themselves with studying and reading up on them in advance. It's the experience of simply trying them that counts; even if the “taste” of his works is too strong or unpleasant, that's just part of the experience.
The artist doesn't even care if the audience mixes up the eye-catching titles he gave to each of his pieces ― from “Ssshhhiiittt!” or “Premature Death,” to “Jokes & Wailing Wallpaper,” “Dark Blue Tooth” and “Welcome, Welcome!” ― describing them as casual nicknames he gives to his friends.
“They are just pet names. Say I call my heavily built friend, “Viking.” One day, another person mixes it up and calls him, “Gulliver.” Would that matter? Absolutely not.”
Bek's "Biodegradable Thing 21-01" (2021) / Courtesy of the artist and PKM Gallery
The most noteworthy part of the exhibition is his eight-piece “Biodegradable Thing” series, which, as the title indicates, is made up of biodegradable materials, from glues and paints, to even wood framed canvases.
“As a musician, actor and performance artist, my work disappears in real time. And so will my physical being, one day. I always think that's wonderful. On the other hand, my paintings, installations and sculptures will continue to remain on earth, as concrete objects,” he noted.
He hopes to see these artworks eventually disappear into thin air as well. In October of last year, he hired an assistant whose job was to go on a months-long search for environmentally friendly materials around the world.
“There are numerous mountains in South Korea. I wanted my work, with its frames attached, to be tossed somewhere there and just be gone.”
The natural stone powder paint used in his biodegradable series differs tremendously in terms of pigment and texture from the oil paint that he used to favor. But the artist fully embraces the difference, as he makes free-spirited strokes on canvas.
“I'm not a person who draws with something specific in my mind, so my painting changes drastically depending on the materials I use. For example, when you are building a house for two people to stay in, its shape will inevitably vary, whether you construct it out of mud, brick or concrete. So do my drawings.”
He expects the series to appear more frequently in his oeuvre in the future. And for him, letting go of the notion of a physical presence will be the general direction of his life as well.
Bek, starring as an incompetent executive who earned his position through nepotism, in the mystery comedy film, "Samjin Company English Class" (2020) / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment
The 49-year-old's spirit of continuous artistic exploration and experimentation is not limited to his paintings, but pervades throughout his career as a musician and actor.
“I don't think the three identities are completely separate. It's just part of the job that one person does,” he said. “I played the role of an abominable character in the recent action crime series, 'Taxi Driver.' After swearing, screaming at and hitting people onscreen, when I stand in front of the canvas, that anger still remains in my brushstrokes. So I try to calm myself down through breathing exercises. It's all connected. It's not like I'm an actor only for several hours a day, and then transform into a musician next.”
Since his chance film debut in “The Foul King,” (2000) Bek has made his name in independent film circles. It was after starring in “Gyeongju,” (2014) that he started appearing in more commercial films and television shows.
His most memorable recent role came in “Taxi Driver,” where he played the despicable CEO of a file-sharing company that was responsible for spreading illegally filmed videos and pornography.
“In terms of technique, it's not difficult at all to portray villains. Since I was young, I have accumulated an exhaustive list of very specific things and actions I abhor, and I draw from it to reenact the people I hate seeing.”
“And it's not like playing a villain relieves stress. It instead drains me, because of the words I physically let out of my body,” he explained. “I would rather scream out loud the words and sentences I consider much more beautiful as a musician.”
Bek, right, is part of the art rock duo, “Uhuhboo Project,” with Jang Young-gyu, who leads the popular alternative pop band, Leenalchi, both of which borrow from Korean traditional music. Korea Times file
Since 1994, Bek has been the lead vocalist of the art rock duo, “Uhuhboo Project,” which he formed with Jang Young-gyu, who leads the popular alternative pop band that borrows from traditional Korean music, Leenalchi. In 2015, he also formed the duo, “Bahngbek,” with film score composer Bang Jun-seok, whose musical pieces appeared in “The Throne” (2015) and “Veteran” (2015).
Bek gets inspiration from random things: the peculiar surface of an expensive German refrigerator or the shape of a person's eyebrows he comes across on public transportation.
“I first take all of those inspirations in and link them right away to different aspects of my artistic career, like: 'I should portray that in my painting; I think that's better to capture in a performance art; I should write lyrics for that; And I should synthesize sound for that.' When a postal worker, for example, sorts out the mail, they don't think twice but let their hands automatically guide them. It's just like that.”
The exhibition, “Beyond Words,” runs through July 3 at PKM Gallery.