Consistency, consistency, consistency.

Consistency, consistency, consistency.

  ​When I first thought about becoming a painter while painting and exhibiting, I really didn't know that I would continue to paint for such a long time. ​ I was well aware that exhibition opportunities are not easily given just by looking for them. After the first exhibition, I took a list of all the galleries in Karlsruhe, where I live. At that time, there were 16 exhibitable galleries. An excellent opportunity for painters to show their paintings to people was primarily through galleries, and online exhibitions were not as common as today. Some galleries took care of everything from exhibitions to public relations for a certain amount of money. But what kind of money did the poor international student's wife have to have a leisurely exhibition? I couldn't afford that, so I had to look for a place to only look at my works and exhibit them for free. I had to look for a place where I could only see and exhibit my works for free, but few places welcomed a foreign woman who did not even graduate from art school. However, there were always grateful people who showed good reviews for my paintings and were willing to exhibit them. Such a chance was so miraculous for me. But even though I got a great opportunity from grateful people, there are many obstacles. If the evaluation of the work is not good, does not sell well, or does not lead to other exhibitions, it isn't easy to go to the end of life as an artist. 

  I like doing things consistently. So, I keep painting like the same a pray out of sight. When I was in middle school, I gave a speech as a candidate for the election for the class president. I was a not-cool girl, often ill, and a weak middle school student. At that time, candidates were selected based on grades to participate as strong candidates. Anyway, in my class president election speech, I said this. " Guys, I'm not the kind of person to be the class president. Instead of me, hire someone who is more capable and does a better job than me. I'm not going to pick me either."  I thought no one would use my name in that election. But to my surprise, one person chose me. I later asked my close friends if they had written my name, but they all said no. It was a bitter experience, but strangely for me, it gave me a lot of strength in my life because I knew then that at least one person would always be on my side, no matter what the circumstances. And I realized no matter what I do since then, really at least one person has been standing by my side. 

Comfort, 2020, illustration, Myungja Anna Koh

  When I work for at least one person like I do anything, I unknowingly generate energy and keep doing it. Among the songs, I like Park Jin-young, a well-known Korean singer and producer, "Even After 10 Years". 

Yes, I'm fine if only you like that person
I can smile and let you go

But why do I keep meeting other people?
I'm just saying I'll forget you easily.

*Look at me, wait, even after ten years have passed
I will only love you*

yes, I'm okay even if you leave
I'm fine, and love will continue even if I'm alone
But why does our love keep coming soon
You say it will be a faded memory
it is not so

Wait, what is ten years until the day I die.

 Park Jin-young, a wonderful singer who wrote and sang this song, divorced and remarried after ten years, but anyway, there is the power to pass ten years. If the power to run for such a long time does not exist, there may not be any painters who run after the invisible sensibility. It seems that such a force is passion, or love, for work. For me, it's the love of painting. The energy of that love creates steadiness, and the steadiness keeps the path going. 

 I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times." - Bruce Lee 

 I want to become a person who practices one kick ten thousand times.