City life

New painting, Cityeye

 ​As a child, I lived in a city. All the time, I breathe smoky smoke profoundly and heard the car's horn sound several times a day. And I grew up seeing crowded people on the street all the time. Maybe that's why, even now, when I almost fall asleep and hear the sound of a car or a big truck passing by outside, I feel nostalgic as if I was back in my childhood.

after rain, 2020, Myungja Anna Koh

 Especially at dawn, when I hear the wheels sounds of a car or people passing by making noise around me, my childhood memories are often called out. Maybe that's why I drew a picture called "City Tree" with these memories in the past.

City trees, 2012, Myungja Anna Koh

Tree branches are swaying above the apartments at dark night. Countless square lights from the apartment windows are reflected brightly between trees. Once upon a time, I saw a picture drawn by my nephew. The trees were always smaller than the house in the picture. More than anything, after sketching the apartment very large, he draws the tree tiny compared to it. I found it very peculiar. Because, in my childhood memories, my trees were always bigger than the house. The size of nature I felt was always grand and overwhelming. Sometimes when the heavy rain and wind blew strong enough, I felt fear. However, children who grow up in cities have fewer opportunities to feel this nature's power. Trapped in a high concrete building, they cannot afford to experience the message or energy of nature. Therefore, the size of nature they feel is always insignificant. The trees in my paintings completely reject the artificial energy emanating from the square window light emitted by these apartments. They somehow move and try to show their presence in front of them. All ordinary people are trapped in the same space and life. The city trees send an infinite message to modern people who do not feel the energy of nature. They stand constantly with shaking and rustling. City Tree was created based on these contents.

​And recently completed a digital artwork called "City Eye." It is a simple work made using Photoshop on the tablet, but my thoughts and concerns about the city are all contained in it.

Cityeye, 2021, Myungja Anna Koh

 Have you ever looked up at a magnificent building from top to bottom when visiting a metropolitan area like New York or Seoul? Our point of view always weakens the existence of nature, like a painting drawn by our nephew. Because, as we know, we are part of that nature. Sometimes it seems that we are controlled by an artificial environment. When I walk the streets of New York, I often feel overwhelmed by its grandeur and splendor. Then whenever I see the beautiful red geraniums planted around the restaurant, I feel a little relieved. There is a force that such a colossal building gives. So I changed the viewpoint this time. That is a top-down view. Perhaps a flying bird, insect, or even extraterrestrial life from a distant universe might see our city this way. In the middle, you can see a blue river like a human eye. The center of the river opens like an iris, and light leaks out. The light swirls the river and converges the building in the middle. I got the idea that the energy that makes these cities, that is, people, who are the subjects of power, are also part of nature. Finally, I paid attention to the power of the invisible spirit that creates a large visible city. How we use and control this energy depends on what direction and angle the human eye sees, so the city's future seems to be determined.
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It would be nice if nature and the city coexist. I hope that an environment where we can embrace each other and coexist is universal.