Artist-Entertainers Gathers to Change Prejudice Against 'Entertainers Who Do Art'

연합뉴스 / 2024-07-04 07:25:12

▲ Korean artist-entertainers attend the press conference for their special exhibition "Bbuck: On & Off" featuring art-entertainers, held at Process Itaewon in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on July 3, 2024. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, July 4 (Yonhap) -- A group of entertainers who work as singers and actors are holding an exhibition to convey messages about contemporary social phenomena through art.

Singer and painter Kwon Ji-an (Solbi) expressed her feelings at the opening press conference of the exhibition 'bbuck: on & off' held on the 3rd at Process Itaewon in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

"It is gratifying that entertainers, who often receive biased views, can unite through art and positively influence society," she said.

Opening on the same day, 'bbuck: on & off' features works from 30 art-entertainers (a combination of 'art' and 'entertainer') such as Johnny Depp, Kwon Ji-an, Kim Wan-sun, and Jeon Hyun-moo. These artists present around 150 pieces, including installations, sculptures, and video art, centered on contemporary social issues.

Chief director Lee Jung-kwon remarked, "In a time when stories are quickly consumed, I wanted to create an art world 'We Are the World' by gathering these art-entertainers. I believed that if they united to convey a message, they could exert a positive influence." He added, "I gathered 30 people who have experience in the art world and can convey their unique stories through art. We even tried to recruit Brad Pitt by visiting New York, but unfortunately, we couldn't get in touch."

The exhibition is themed 'A Broken World, Towards an Amazing World,' exploring changes in both online and offline worlds. The section themed around online phenomena features works addressing the confusion and cyber violence caused by social media.

Kwon Ji-an, who has previously hosted an exhibition on cyber violence, said, "Since I started working as an artist, I've experienced mocking comments and cyber-attacks. Each time, I responded with my own artistic language. I hope my works empower those who have faced similar issues to stand tall."

Shinhwa's Lee Min-woo shared, "I've been in the entertainment industry for 27 years, but I've only been working as a painter since last year, so I participated in this exhibition with a beginner's mindset. In this exhibition, I wanted to express the emptiness and pain I feel, so I presented a painting where I depict myself as a clown."

The offline-themed section of the exhibition, in collaboration with Greenpeace, conveys messages about plastic pollution and climate crisis. Singer Jang Hye-jin said, "I am interested in the environment and personally love sunsets, so I worked on this theme. It's said that a beautiful sunset can't be seen if the air isn't clean. I painted on fabric with the hope of enjoying beautiful sunsets for a long time."

Participants hope this exhibition will change perceptions of entertainers who engage in art. Solbi remarked, "When I held my first exhibition in 2012, the prejudice was severe. While I'm past the stage of being hurt by it, unique individuals are still met with unfamiliar and negative views. I hope this exhibition changes perspectives on diversity and inspires many to dream of becoming artists in various fields."

The 'bbuck: on & off' exhibition runs until September 22 at Process Itaewon, with 'Art Night' events featuring exhibitions, performances, and parties every Saturday.