Andreas Helmling

Artist Andreas Helmling

The town when I have been in Germany, Karlsruhe, is a city in southwestern Germany. It is north of the Black Forest, close to the French border, and is famous for two of the highest federal courts (the Federal Constitutional court and the Federal Court of Justice) and a central hub for science and technology. Also, it has a former weapons factory, now transformed to ZKM center for art and Media. 
You can also recognize eye-catching status made of sharp stainless in front of the main buildings if you visit there. When I was used to going to Ettlinger Tor, the biggest shopping center in Baden-Wuerttemberg. I was interested in the blue sculpture. (In 2011, the status moved from Ettlinger tor Platz to state entrance because of its symbolic value and renovation from the state plan). It is big-sized blue stainless artworks, representing the blue for Europe and describing the symbol for existing and future. I love the color, all kinds of blue. In my opinion, that it is an excellent symbol of the coexistence of the past and future. 

Kunstwerk von Andreas Helmling Größe zweiteilig, je ca. 15/13/6 m Karlsruhe: Kultur & Tourismus https://m.karlsruhe.de/kunst/db/de/ettlinger_tor.html?kl=0

Several years later, I had a chance to meet  the sculptor who made the bule status in person during my exhibition. First, he took a picture of one of my works with his manual camera.  The work is one of overcome series and has a blue color with moving like tree branches. Next, he asked me to let the artwork lay down on the floor for a good quality photo. After taking a picture, he introduces me by himself with a soft smile. "My name is Andreas Helmling, an artist and a sculptor." It was the first impression of him.
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When I exhibited my works, the house is called the pumphouse, located in Lauterbourg, France. It is in the countryside that can have a barbeque party and mini-concerts with my guests. We had a barbeque lunch with Korean bulgogi during the shows, and we had meaningful time to talk about each country's culture and foods. 

​In the summer, he invited my family and me with Yujin's family, who performed with piano in my exhibition. When I arrived at his studio, it appears a standard house door, but I was surprised to enter it, that the inside is an unexpected huge size and looks like an industrial car factory. Friendly, he took us to his workspace to show the working process, published books, and masterpieces. Then, he drew the beautiful serving table with wheels for a short break,  which put the homemade desserts and coffees on it. During the coffee time, carefully and sincerely, he advised me, " Some the Koreans I met were full of passion for learning something. They constantly learn and learn very hardly. But please act something right now, don't say to do it after learning. Please, not to hesitate with any worries, unsatisfaction. You do not lack in art, and instead, I wish you could challenge to expand your areas such as furniture, fashion, and other style's art. Do it right now!" 
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Looking back at that time, he was a mentor who affected me to think about the essence of art and how artists act for creativity. 
After moving to New York, I could touch with him by Facebook, and we imaged that he traveled to Long Island and spent summer vacation with family together. He showed me an interest in the Montauk and explained to me some books which described it. But I know that we couldn't keep our promise together forever because he passed by in 2019. 
For a long time, I can't believe it, and if I feel like that, it is not real. Desperately, I wanted that it is not true, but I realized the reality quickly through there is no reply after my message. 

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    ​Some day, I and my friend, Yujin remembered him and his life, that we felt grateful to him. Sadly, we can't see his activities anymore, and it was impossible to exchange regards each other, but we'll remember that the moments he gave us encourage and good motivation. 
Thank you so much and gone from our sight but never from our hearts like an art. 

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