Kim Young-hwa's charity exhibition "GOLDEN Moments of Magic Exhibition."

"Societal Contribution Collaborative Exhibition Project

Solo Exhibition GOLDEN Moments of Magic
Date: November 16th, 2023 - November 22nd, 2023
Location: Seocho Gouter Gallery

Renowned Korean oriental artist Kim Young-hwa will be hosting a social contribution donation project exhibition at Seocho's Gouter Gallery from November 16th to November 22nd. This serves as the inaugural exhibition for a collaborative project involving three countries: Korea, Mexico, and the United States, which will take place at the Toolroom in Mexico. The event is also intended to raise non-profit humanitarian funds for the international relief organization "COINTREE."

Kim Young-hwa is a contemporary Korean oriental painter. She is the 9th generation descendant of the renowned painter Kim Hong-do and has graduated from Hongik University's Department of Oriental Painting and its Graduate School. Since 1999, she has been actively creating art. Her artistic world delves into the fundamental concepts of life, love, and energy, which she has continued to develop.

In the midst of the global pandemic that has caused widespread suffering over the past three years, the artist has aspired to create paintings that can help many people. She sought to convey the concepts of meditation and healing through intuitive imagery, departing from her previous explorations in figurative and non-figurative realms to give birth to abstract images. This is precisely what the 'Les Monets de Magie Moments of Magic' series represents – a painting filled with the artist's ambition to heal and inspire the world through its uniquely Korean essence.

"When I was young, my family faced financial difficulties, and my parents had to work far away to earn a living. I have three younger siblings, and I was the only one to take care of them. I couldn't go to middle school on time, and I became the 'breadwinner' for the family. I tried my best to make ends meet, even trying my hand at making chili paste, putting a lot of salt on a single egg, and foraging for mugwort to sell so we could have something to eat. It was tough seeing my friends going to school while I struggled to ensure we didn't go hungry that day. It was from that moment that I made a resolution to live my life by helping those in difficult situations."

Kim Young-hwa, the artist, fundamentally seeks healing through her art. Her core values revolve around looking at the world through her unique insight and sensibility, aiming to heal the world through her creative work. She wants more people to connect and gather strength through her artwork, aiming to heal the suffering in the midst of indifference.

This intention of the artist became the catalyst for this project. The exhibition's title, "Solo Exhibition: GOLDEN," was planned with the aspiration to bring moments of golden light into the lives of those who might feel marginalized or in dark places.

For this exhibition, Kim Young-hwa created special artworks. Instead of painting on traditional canvases, she searched for discarded and neglected pieces of wood. Choosing wood that had no commercial value and had been accumulating dust in warehouses, she created the "Les Monets de Magie Moments of Magic" series on these worn and fragile wooden surfaces. She left the imperfections and added her artistic touch, giving these pieces a new life as timeless artworks. The philosophy of her healing art is fully reflected in these creations. This series, created for charity, was named the "Golden Moment" series, and it was priced at a special rate to provide deeper inspiration and healing to those who appreciate and collect her art.

"The artist mentioned that, even more enduring than canvas, is wood, and among woods, she worked with Sugi wood, which has the longest lifespan. In a way, it can be seen as something very special and precious."

Kim Young-hwa's next endeavor is a collaborative project exhibition involving three countries, set to be unveiled in December at the Toolroom in Mexico. The overall planning for this exhibition is overseen by Gallery PADO, located in LA and led by Director Jeong In-geol Julian. This project aims to introduce Kim Young-hwa's contemporary oriental art to Mexico while playing a crucial bridging role in showcasing the exhibition on-site for the international relief organization Cointry. Jeong In-geol Julian, the director of PADO, emphasizes that the work in the field of culture and art may seem like something meant only for artists and art enthusiasts, but it transcends boundaries and areas, requiring empathy and support as it represents the ultimate values and philosophy of being a part of society.

The proceeds from the exhibition will be directed to the international relief organization Cointry. Cointry is a non-profit organization operated by Korean youths and has been providing meals, education, emergency assistance, and medical services to children in extreme poverty in Bolivia, Mexico, and Sri Lanka since 2014. Its representative, Han Young-jun, known as "The Flower-rich Man," follows the ideology of "We work for the children and people, not the organization." He has been residing in Mexico since 2019, actively engaging in relief efforts through direct collaboration with the local community, sponsors, related organizations, hospitals, and residents.

ㅣ

 In this 3-country collaborative exhibition, the Art & Yoga program adds a touch of uniqueness. Going beyond the solace and healing provided by art, it extends into the realm of physical and mental well-being. Renowned South Korean actor Yoon Dong-hwan, known for his work in theater, film, and drama, joins the "Field of Stars - Art & Yoga" class.

Kim Young Hwa-Ha Baek's charity exhibitions are not a first-time occurrence. Following his event in 2002 where he personally donated 1000 hand-painted artworks, in 2005, he generously presented five motorized wheelchairs to a children's rehabilitation center through the "Beautiful Sharing Exhibition" held at the Jongno Gallery. Additionally, in 2013, he organized a charity exhibition in Japan to support victims of the Chiba Prefecture earthquake, providing full sponsorship for the cause.

His spirit of giving extends to television broadcasts as well. In the SBS "Let's Be Friends" entertainment program, he portrays the elderly, drawing their portraits and even creates tiger drawings for the renovated houses during the broadcasts.

An entertainment program that transforms neglected elderly rooms into cozy living spaces, cleans air conditioning units, and lends a helping hand to the surrounding community will be introduced on SBS Biz Channel under the title "Let's Be Friends" on November 11th. Kim Young Hwa-Ha Baek is a permanent panelist on this show.

The charity exhibition "Golden Moments of Magic," taking place on November 16th, is supported by Han Moon Chul TV, The Opera, Jami Gallery, Catswell Coffee, Kookmin Anchor, Olympia Corporation, S-CAU (Seoul Culture Arts University), and SBS Biz Channel - Let's Be Friends.

The Gouter
Gallery exhibition hall is located behind Sarang Church, near Exit 3 of Seocho Station. It is scheduled to showcase over 40 artworks, including Kim Young Hwa-Ha Baek's golf paintings.