Modern art is based on the diverse actions and activities of artists rooted in creation.
What does proper artistic creation, the essence of art?
Firstly, artists must have a clear philosophy and artistic spirit.
Nowadays, when observing young artists, it's often noticeable that many lack a clear philosophy behind their artistic activities. Artworks pursued by an artist cannot be separated from the realities of the world. To sustain artistic activity, one must have their own perspective. Understanding people, society, and the era forms the basis upon which artistic spirit is manifested on canvas. A good artist strives harder with age, continuously evolving through art to bring happiness and inspiration to the world.
Secondly, the technique of the artwork must be flawless and irreplicable.
Despite the high value of some paintings, the market is often flooded with replicas. No matter how strong the philosophy, if the technique isn't perfected, the artwork has its limits. Especially, self-replication must be avoided by any artist. In Korea's art market, a proliferation of similar artworks contributed to a disconnect with the market, highlighting the need to avoid easy, comfortable self-replication in artistic activities. To truly prosper, one must dig deep into their own wellspring.
Many Korean artists strive tirelessly to create works with impeccable techniques, even beyond the capabilities of AI. Before focusing on personal networks, Korean artists should first complete their own functions. It's essential to understand that the journey to greatness often involves pondering, solitude, and suffering. Another crucial aspect in artistic endeavors is embracing patience and waiting as essential attitudes.
Thirdly, artists must sufficient understanding of pigments and canvases.
Today, among famous artworks, some suffer from pigments deteriorating or separating from the canvas within a few years. There's also a frequent mismatch between the artwork and its frame. Artists require adequate learning and understanding of the elements that constitute great artworks beyond their artistic activity. Personally, I hold a skeptical view towards artists who exclusively work with acrylics. While acrylics dry quickly, they come with numerous limitations. Many young artists who mainly produce multiple works should reflect on this. While I may be biased, spaces filled only with acrylic artworks are akin to nightmares for me.
Fourthly, there are limitations to using everyday subjects.
There are beautiful paintings portraying everyday encounters like flowers, dogs, cats, or charming cafes. However, it's not inherently wrong to use such subjects. Even with the same subject, artworks can vary significantly in themes, offering different interpretations and creative worlds. Nevertheless, I haven't seen many cases of artists depicting new changes among those who paint everyday subjects. Significant artworks often emerge when they derive from a deep understanding of human existence and contemplation on the joys and sorrows of humanity.
Beautiful paintings are unlikely to appreciate significantly in value. For most artworks, after ten years, they risk being forgotten or fetching only 10-30% of their purchase price. Artists and collectors are aware of this reality. Purchasing grand works depicting everyday subjects for less than 3 million won can be a route to happiness. When purchasing for more than this amount, it's crucial that the additional value increases over time and facilitates easy refunds.
Fifthly, artworks require continuous change and challenges.
Consider the case of David Hockney, whose self-portrait of two people in a swimming pool fetched 90.3 million dollars at auction in 2018, setting a record for the highest-priced artwork by a living artist. Initially, the reason for this wasn't clear to me. However, after visiting David Hockney's exhibition and reading his artwork catalogs, I came to understand his greatness. Over sixty years, he continuously questioned ways of observing the world through paintings, exploring themes like landscapes, figures, and homosexuality. Recently, he embraced digital technologies like the iPad to expand the realm of his artistic activities. Now, understanding his life, the recognition of his high artwork value naturally follows.
Portrait of an Artist(Pool with Two Figures), Acrylic on Canvas, 214×305cm, 1972
Sixthly, artists must create the best artwork possible. (To be continued)
Lee Inseok
CEO, Lelian Co., Ltd.
Chairman, GIC (Global Image Care) Medical Mission Organization
Development Advisory Board Member, Dankook University
ⓒ 2023. TANT All rights reserved.
Modern art is based on the diverse actions and activities of artists rooted in creation.
What does proper artistic creation, the essence of art?
Firstly, artists must have a clear philosophy and artistic spirit.
Nowadays, when observing young artists, it's often noticeable that many lack a clear philosophy behind their artistic activities. Artworks pursued by an artist cannot be separated from the realities of the world. To sustain artistic activity, one must have their own perspective. Understanding people, society, and the era forms the basis upon which artistic spirit is manifested on canvas. A good artist strives harder with age, continuously evolving through art to bring happiness and inspiration to the world.
Secondly, the technique of the artwork must be flawless and irreplicable.
Despite the high value of some paintings, the market is often flooded with replicas. No matter how strong the philosophy, if the technique isn't perfected, the artwork has its limits. Especially, self-replication must be avoided by any artist. In Korea's art market, a proliferation of similar artworks contributed to a disconnect with the market, highlighting the need to avoid easy, comfortable self-replication in artistic activities. To truly prosper, one must dig deep into their own wellspring.
Many Korean artists strive tirelessly to create works with impeccable techniques, even beyond the capabilities of AI. Before focusing on personal networks, Korean artists should first complete their own functions. It's essential to understand that the journey to greatness often involves pondering, solitude, and suffering. Another crucial aspect in artistic endeavors is embracing patience and waiting as essential attitudes.
Thirdly, artists must sufficient understanding of pigments and canvases.
Today, among famous artworks, some suffer from pigments deteriorating or separating from the canvas within a few years. There's also a frequent mismatch between the artwork and its frame. Artists require adequate learning and understanding of the elements that constitute great artworks beyond their artistic activity. Personally, I hold a skeptical view towards artists who exclusively work with acrylics. While acrylics dry quickly, they come with numerous limitations. Many young artists who mainly produce multiple works should reflect on this. While I may be biased, spaces filled only with acrylic artworks are akin to nightmares for me.
Fourthly, there are limitations to using everyday subjects.
There are beautiful paintings portraying everyday encounters like flowers, dogs, cats, or charming cafes. However, it's not inherently wrong to use such subjects. Even with the same subject, artworks can vary significantly in themes, offering different interpretations and creative worlds. Nevertheless, I haven't seen many cases of artists depicting new changes among those who paint everyday subjects. Significant artworks often emerge when they derive from a deep understanding of human existence and contemplation on the joys and sorrows of humanity.
Beautiful paintings are unlikely to appreciate significantly in value. For most artworks, after ten years, they risk being forgotten or fetching only 10-30% of their purchase price. Artists and collectors are aware of this reality. Purchasing grand works depicting everyday subjects for less than 3 million won can be a route to happiness. When purchasing for more than this amount, it's crucial that the additional value increases over time and facilitates easy refunds.
Fifthly, artworks require continuous change and challenges.
Consider the case of David Hockney, whose self-portrait of two people in a swimming pool fetched 90.3 million dollars at auction in 2018, setting a record for the highest-priced artwork by a living artist. Initially, the reason for this wasn't clear to me. However, after visiting David Hockney's exhibition and reading his artwork catalogs, I came to understand his greatness. Over sixty years, he continuously questioned ways of observing the world through paintings, exploring themes like landscapes, figures, and homosexuality. Recently, he embraced digital technologies like the iPad to expand the realm of his artistic activities. Now, understanding his life, the recognition of his high artwork value naturally follows.
Portrait of an Artist(Pool with Two Figures), Acrylic on Canvas, 214×305cm, 1972
Sixthly, artists must create the best artwork possible. (To be continued)
Lee Inseok
CEO, Lelian Co., Ltd.
Chairman, GIC (Global Image Care) Medical Mission Organization
Development Advisory Board Member, Dankook University
ⓒ 2023. TANT All rights reserved.