Exploring Memories Through Illustrations: The Works of Kim Dong-seong and Jimmy Liao
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- blog.naver.com
On October 2nd, I visited the Jeonju International Picture Book Fair, which took place at the Korean Sound Culture Center.
The Korean Sound Culture Center is a prominent cultural and artistic facility in Jeonbuk, featuring performance and exhibition spaces. This year's fair showcases picture books from Korea and Taiwan under the theme 'Picturing the Memories.'
At the entrance of the venue, a long red carpet welcomed visitors, adorned with a large sculpture illustrated by artist Lee Soo-ji.
The opening ceremony held in the international conference hall featured a performance of 'Hometown Spring' by Jeonju Picture Book Connection.
Following that, a ribbon-cutting ceremony with key attendees marked the official opening of the fair.
- Exhibition Period: October 2 (Fri) - October 25 (Sun)
- Operating Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Venue: Korean Sound Culture Center Exhibition Hall [Central Exhibition Hall, Room 1, Room 3]
- Admission: Free
- Closed on Mondays
- Docent Tours: Available from Tuesday to Sunday (detailed times will be provided on-site)
* Program schedules may change based on on-site conditions.
In the second-floor exhibition hall, visitors can explore a total of 159 works by Korean artist Kim Dong-seong and Taiwanese artist Jimmy Liao.
Both artists have captured their unique experiences and memories in their picture books. Kim Dong-seong expressed that picture books serve as dreams for children and memories for adults.
He explained that while 'Hometown Spring' reflects personal memories, 'Strawberries of May' embodies the memories of an era, yet both works convey similar emotions. One person's memory connects to the collective memory through picture books.
'The Flower-Obsessed Mr. Kim' is a picture book about Kim Deok-hyung, a painter from the late Joseon period who loved flowers and plants, completed by Kim Dong-seong over ten years.
For this Jeonju International Picture Book Fair, a total of seven original artworks, including two specially created for the event, are on display. It could be fun to discover which pieces are newly illustrated.
Taiwanese artist Jimmy Liao incorporates his experiences with illness, urban loneliness, and hope for life into his picture books, providing comfort and empathy to readers. He has played a significant role in expanding the culture of enjoying picture books among adults.
Upon closer inspection of the original artwork for his representative work 'A Starry Night,' the texture of layered paint and the traces of rough brushstrokes caught my eye. Experiencing such expressions, which are hard to feel in books, is one of the charms of original art exhibitions.
Jimmy Liao has hidden fun elements throughout his illustrations. It’s enjoyable to search for various animals, including his favorite rabbit, and to discover scenes inspired by other artworks.
Particularly, original illustrations not included in the book 'Life's Cinema' can be seen at this exhibition in Jeonju. Take your time to find the hidden elements within the works.
The exhibition also features free docent tours by the picture book organization 'Connection.' I learned that even small elements in the illustrations contain the artist's thoughts and stories.
After the docent tour, there will be a reading session of picture books related to the exhibition works. Detailed operating hours can be found in the visitor guide below.
Beyond the original art exhibition, the Korean Sound Culture Center offers various picture book exhibitions and interactive spaces from the first to the third floors.
On the second floor, picture books from Korea and Taiwan are introduced under five themes: nature, local history and identity, relationships, imagination, and human rights. Visitors can compare how authors from both countries express the same themes differently.
On the inner side of the second floor, visitors can encounter works by four Taiwanese authors: Liu Hsi-kung, Lin Xiao-bei, Chan De-ya, and Wu Rui-zheng. It’s fascinating to explore the different artistic techniques used by each author, such as pencil, watercolor, and paper cutting.
The Taiwanese picture book introduction space and publisher booths, which operated until October 4th, have now been transformed into a picture book experience area. Visitors can participate in activities utilizing picture books beyond just reading.
On the third floor, there's an exhibition titled 'Delicious Jeonju, Delicious Taiwan,' connecting food and picture books, showcasing the food cultures of both regions through illustrations.
The '2026 Dipictus 100 Picture Books' exhibition introduces 100 picture books from around the world that have gained attention. Visitors can examine and compare the artistic and narrative expressions of picture books from various countries.
The 'Start-Author Exhibition,' showcasing picture books created by Jeonju citizens, also caught my attention. One citizen author I met shared that they continue to create picture books about Jeonju even after completing the picture book author training course.
While the main events of the 5th Jeonju International Picture Book Fair concluded on October 4th, the original artwork exhibition by Kim Dong-seong and Jimmy Liao, along with planned exhibitions, docent tours, and picture book experiences, will continue until October 25th. Notably, on Sundays, on-site registration is available, allowing families to visit and participate together.
This fall, when reading is delightful, how about spending time with picture books at the Korean Sound Culture Center? You can meet Kim Dong-seong, Taiwanese artist Jimmy Liao, and various authors from Jeonju and around the world all in one place. Just as a picture book can evoke childhood memories, I hope the time spent at this fair becomes a cherished memory to revisit someday.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/jbgokr/224439917115
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