▲ Handam Jeong Gap-yeon, Calligraphy/Print National Guest Artist

There are various types of our traditional arts, but the most famous of them are calligraphy and painting, which are expressed in writing using ink and brushes. Traditional paintings and calligraphy are usually expressed in solid colors using ink, and the artist's thoughts and artistry are often expressed through restrained expressions and aesthetics of blank space rather than flashy expressions.

There are craftsmen everywhere with their love and passion for our traditional arts. Handam Jeong Gap-yeon, a director of the Korean Traditional Cultural Center and Gyurim Institute of Dynamics and Cultural Studies, has been active as an invited artist at the Korean Calligraphy Exhibition following the Grand Prize in the Calligraphy Division and Engraving Division of the Korea Haedong Calligraphy Exhibition, the Grand Prize in the Gyeongsangbuk-do Calligraphy Exhibition, and the Leader Award in the Poeun Calligraphy International Competition. The calligraphy/engraving artist is one such artisan.

Writer Jeong Gap-yeon says that the greatest charm of calligraphy is that it has the power to stabilize one's inner self, develop character, and become the driving force that has allowed him to come this far. If anyone, regardless of age or gender, has a brush and food, they can change their ink, fold the paper, and polish the brush to not only stabilize their inner self in the process of writing each letter neatly, but also to express their individuality and thoughts that come from the stable inner side with the writing and writing process. The point is that it can be revealed to others in the form of a picture. In addition to this, the reason why he fell in love with calligraphy is that, as an art that uses 'letters' as a material, the energy contained in the characters itself can have a positive effect on the inside of those who see the work. explanation of 

“Chinese characters are hieroglyphs made after the shape of an object, so the meaning contained in the characters itself is very large. That is why we are expressing poems, sutras, and old sayings that can convey a positive message to the viewer through calligraphy, engravings, and drawings.”

“Personally, I have the motto that if I do anything consistently, the road will be opened, without being bound by obsession and greed. Traditional arts, represented by calligraphy, literature, and prints are increasingly attracting more and more people. So, once again, I look forward to the arrival of the second heyday of calligraphy and literary painting, which is the pinnacle of spiritual and artistic culture.”

The future aspiration of artist Jeong Gap-yeon is to promote Korean traditional art to the world through active international exchanges, as well as steady nurturing of artists and meeting with the public through individual exhibitions. Of course, there are many difficulties due to the impact of Corona 19, which has recently swept the world, but as long as there is a firm will and vision, it is expected that Jung's challenge will continue.