Embracing the light A city full of bright energy. All different hues of the city stride along the streets. As old and new buildings are interlaced in harmony, the vitality of time melts into our daily habitat. My work begins with the story of the alleyways of this city. My work captures my emotions on the hidden scenery in between the dense layers of buildings. The main subjects are the two neighborhoods filled with precious memories of my family: the area where my family has lived since even before I was born, and my father's workplace, Euljiro 4-ga. What’s common about these two regions is that they are under redevelopment. New buildings coexist with the old ones, preserving the traces of the past and my childhood sentiments. The aged alleyways enveloped in the rows of tall buildings provide me a cozy haven, and I have felt more attached to such a private landscape harboring my memories than the latest world outside. The ordinary scenery of the alleys is the protagonist in my paintings. I delicately portray the aged buildings that are smeared with traces of time. Each building that has grown old with me stands sturdy in its own place. In the early evenings, warm lights flow out of each window, gently illuminating the streets. The lights then comfort me and caress me with glowing warmth. Such illuminated world presents me with the most beautiful artistic imagery. As I gaze at the scene, glinting lights whisper to me in silence. The shine grows as the night unfolds, and its vivacity overwhelms me. All different lights streaming out from identically shaped windows resonate with the world and fill it with positive energy: the luminous energy that is vigorous, sturdy, and mystic. Beneath the chill dusk, the feast of lights finally begins.