I guess most people use photos or the written word to help them remember something, but not the artist we’re talking about today. As Mike Balfour now reports, she uses flowers.


Report

[slug]
‘Hidden Flower ? Lentil Tare’ by Hwang Yeon-ju

When walking a trail in (애월) Aewol, an artist encountered a tiny lentil tare.

She plucked the plant, then pressed and printed it on paper.

[slug]
‘Hidden Flower ? Nerium Oleander’ by Hwang Yeon-ju

While traveling to (비양도) Biyangdo Island, she found the pink flower, Nerium Oleander.

That plant is interesting in that while it is toxic, the plant is used in herbal medicine.

The artist put the poisonous plant in her art collection.

[slug]
Hwang has collected, printed plants from Jeju for years

Ms. (황연주) Hwang Yeon-ju was attracted by the island’s small plants when visiting the island three years ago.

She collected, dried and pressed plants from all corners of the island. Then the pressings are printed on paper.

Her artistic works help her to recall the warm sunlight of the (애월) Aewol trail and the smell of the sea at (비양도) Biyangdo.

INTERVIEW
Hwang Yeon-ju / Artist
I like to focus on the small things that often don’t get noticed. Highlighting small plants rather than something like Seongsan Sunrise Peak is a way to draw attention to everyday island life.
<인터뷰 : 황연주/작가>
"일상적이고 주목받지 않는 것들에 대한 얘기를 하는 것도 제주도하면 상징적인 성산일출봉보다는 그곳에 민초같이 자라는 잡초를 이야기하는 게 저로서는 이곳의 일상성을 부각시키기 위한 방법이었습니다."

Her printed works done over the last three years are now on display in Jeju.

[slug]
‘Hidden Flower ? Jeju’ through September 27 at Dream in Jeju Gallery

From skilled hands, common, attractive exotic plants found in Jeju have become works of art and a souvenir of precious moments.

[Reporter] Mike Balfour
[Camera] Ko Moon-su

The prints of the island’s small plants are being exhibited at the Dream in Jeju Gallery in (삼도) Samdo-dong.

Mike Balfour, KCTV