Interview about 2017Wbc South Korea Illustration, winner of the A' Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Award 2021
This is the poster for 2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC) project. His work details Republic of Korea attractions and national treasures, and features famous baseball players in the middle. An important point of this work is the fusion of athletes and natural elements so that various Republic of Korea charms can be produced in a single scene. It is a graphic design of a new expression method that combines style and computer graphics worked in a way using a brush, a traditional Republic of Korea painting technique.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsI have always loved traditional Korean painting styles. Naturally, I grew up admiring Korean art and have a strong interest in the country's diverse cultural heritage. I've often thought about how to apply traditional styles like ink wash painting to my work in a modern way. This led me to develop my current digital painting technique. First, I create base textures using traditional Korean brushes and ink to capture the initial strokes. Second, I sketch the drawing and add line work, doing the initial sketch offline, which I then scan digitally. In the third step, I use the scanned sketch image to refine the line work digitally. Fourth, I proceed with the coloring process in Photoshop. For the final stage, I combine the textures created from brush and ink strokes with the digital drawing and painting. During this merging process, I also make adjustments to lighting, color correction, and other post-production elements to complete the artwork.
In Korea, there’s a tradition where people visit the East Sea every January 1st to watch the sunrise, symbolizing hope for the new year. Korea’s rich cultural heritage is reflected in various historical monuments, and, in recent years, new landmark buildings featuring advanced technologies have also emerged. I aim to express the value of both past and modern architecture in my artwork, seeing them as embodying the essence of Korean identity.
In my artwork, I included the Four Guardian Gods from Korean mythology (Black Tortoise, Blue Dragon, White Tiger, and Red Phoenix) to represent the cardinal directions—North, East, South, and West. I also placed the national flower, the Mugunghwa (Rose of Sharon), at the base to symbolize the ever-blooming energy of athletes. This concept reflects the idea of sharing legendary stories passed down through folklore, as embedding these tales in my work is like recording history itself. I designed the piece to be viewed from various angles, prompting reflection on the perspectives of both the past and the present.
In traditional Korean art, there are various types of brushes, including Saepil (細筆, fine brush), Ganpil (簡筆, simple brush), Chopil (抄筆, sketch brush), Daepil (大筆, large brush), and Akpil (額筆, framing brush). The production methods also vary, such as bundled brushes, milji-jjim brushes, mushimpil (unconscious brush), and yushimpil (intentional brush). I select the most suitable brush based on the qualities needed for my artwork and use it with ink on paper. The textures I create are then scanned to preserve them as digital data, and the original brushstrokes on paper are carefully stored in a separate archival portfolio.
My artwork is meticulously crafted with a left-right symmetrical composition, an essential aspect that symbolizes harmony and balance within the elements of Korean tradition. By integrating natural aspects representing the universe—such as the cardinal directions (East, West, South, North), black and white, and the four seasons—the piece blends these foundational elements with distinctly Korean influences, creating a completely new style. This unique approach allows the artwork to convey a story, imbuing it with its own inherent value. I believe that an artwork with timeless value has the power to resonate with people from all walks of life, conveying profound meaning universally.
Korea’s national flower, the Mugunghwa (hibiscus), is known for its unique ability to bloom once each day. This requires an incredible amount of energy, which is no easy feat for any plant. With its resilience and strength, the Mugunghwa embodies Korea’s potential and enduring value. I wanted to reflect these qualities in the figures of Korean athletes, projecting the flower’s strength and effort into the spirit of those who represent the country. The Mugunghwa, as Korea’s national symbol, is one of the most fitting ways to express Korea's essence and its power of growth.
Combining athletes with their backgrounds can naturally create a seamless composition, a setting that feels familiar and relatable to anyone viewing it. However, blending sports figures with entirely new, unrelated elements introduces complexity to the artistic process. I believe that each piece should convey a story, not only requiring time to create but also embedding a layer of historical significance. Creating a work that represents a country is no easy task. Therefore, producing pieces that bring together Korea’s cherished cultural heritage, national symbols, and athletic spirit is both a challenge and an exploration of possibilities. Despite any obstacles, if a piece can showcase Korea’s essence and values, the effort is profoundly meaningful.
In Korea, there is a rich tradition of ink-based art, with ink wash painting (sumukhwa) being a prime example. The most authentic way to showcase sumukhwa is by using hanji, also known as dak paper, an ancient Korean paper known for its exceptional quality. Hanji enables a more traditional approach to expressing brush and ink strokes. Beyond hanji, using various types of paper for brushstrokes has allowed me to bring unique textures into my work. When combined with digital coloring, these brushstroke effects enhance the artwork, adding vibrancy and a lifelike quality to each piece.
This has become a signature element of my work. It serves as a means to express my thoughts as an artist and as one of the ways I embed my unique values into my creations. Winning the A Design Award helped solidify my perspective on my artwork, and I truly believe it has had a very positive impact on my creations.
Korea’s culture is currently loved by many countries, and I am truly grateful for and cherish this fact. I believe that when works featuring traditional Korean elements are shared with others, it carries great significance. Additionally, I think the interest people have in Korea’s cultural heritage, coupled with the visual information and meaning conveyed through art, can spark new curiosity and excitement. The WBC 2017 work, which expresses positive energy through sports figures, was created with the intent to faithfully capture the charm of sports, a genre that builds new history. I hope that more works like this will emerge, creating synergy with sports culture. This is because the appeal of sports, the efforts of athletes, and the way these are expressed through culture and history in artworks will introduce something new to many people.
Dive into a world of design excellence with our curated highlights. Each feature showcases outstanding creativity, innovation, and impact from the design world. Discover inspiration and learn more about these incredible achievements.
