Interview about Tiger Spirit Digital Media Art, winner of the A' Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Award 2022
His artwork was produced as a video artwork by combining 2D painting, digital artwork, and 3D digital imaging artwork with a large media tower that is 20m high. He worked on animating Korean colors, natural elements, and animals called tigers so that they could move through digital artwork, and expressed the atmosphere of Korean classical art with modern digital artworks. He made the meaning of the four seasons of Korea into digital art by using illustrations of time and space through digital effects.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsCreating video artworks like media art requires developing both static images and separate video work, making the process quite intensive. In this project, I utilized a variety of completely different elements to create a unique form of art that incorporates traditional aspects in new ways. As a Korean artist, I have always been interested in creating works that employ traditional techniques. This project provided me with numerous opportunities to further develop these techniques. I was also able to expand my methods by integrating animals and nature into new expressive forms, extending my approach into the realm of media art.
To display artwork on a large media tower, high-resolution rendered video is essential. This process starts with creating high-quality image pieces. I begin with the planning and sketching stages, drawing out initial ideas that I then convert into digital files using Photoshop. Specific elements that require movement are isolated and turned into separate objects. Once all image components are ready, I bring them into a 3D program to add lifelike motion. Afterward, I complete the video with final color correction and special effects, such as swirling snow or falling petals, before rendering it in high quality. This media art piece offers a dynamic experience distinct from static 2D images, further enriched with music, enhancing its artistic significance and value.
South Korea is a country with four distinct seasons, and its national animal, the tiger, is deeply embedded in the country's folklore and mythology. To create a piece that symbolizes Korea and embraces nature, I chose the concept of the four seasons. This seasonal change evokes a sense of life’s journey and the passage of time. My hope was for all these elements to flow together seamlessly. By combining traditional Korean techniques with modern technology, I aimed to create media art that not only reflects my unique perspective but also resonates with those who appreciate Korean culture, offering both a sense of connection and visual enjoyment. Including symbolic animals and the theme of time brings depth to the piece, enhancing its cultural relevance.
I have always had a strong affinity for traditional Korean painting styles, having grown up surrounded by traditional Korean artwork and developing a deep interest in Korea's rich cultural heritage. I’ve often pondered how to bring traditional techniques, like ink wash painting, into a modern context in my art. This journey led me to my current digital painting approach.The process begins with the creation of base textures using traditional tools—brushes and ink—to capture the essence of traditional brush strokes. Next, I sketch and outline the drawing offline, which I then digitize by scanning. In the third step, I digitally refine the outline, followed by color application in Photoshop in the fourth step. In the fifth step, I combine all these elements—textural brush and ink strokes, digital lines, and painting—into a cohesive piece, adjusting lighting and making additional corrections for depth.The next stages involve preparing the artwork for animation. In the sixth step, I separate each element into individual objects. In the seventh step, I animate these objects using specific software, creating a dynamic scene through rendering. Finally, in the eighth step, I enhance the video with special effects and edit it in Premiere Pro to bring it all together. This is my complete process for producing a dynamic digital art piece that embodies both traditional and modern influences.
The COVID-19 pandemic was a challenging time for everyone. During this period, I had the opportunity to showcase my artwork at Starfield City, one of the largest department stores in Korea, where it was displayed across all Starfield City locations on 388 media towers and screens. I wanted to present the tiger, a traditional Korean symbol, to the Korean people through my work. This event remains a special memory for many in Korea. The tiger symbolizes health and good fortune, offering protection and inspiring hope during difficult times. My artwork was created with these same meanings, and I strived to instill it with positive energy to bring hope to the people of Korea.
The planning, composition, and production processes for this project were different from my previous works. To achieve this, I had to seek help from new experts and engage in extensive discussions to share experiences and insights. It was essential to find the best ways and environment to fully express my artwork, and it was also important to convey the right atmosphere through music. This project was truly a new challenge for me.
The artwork is designed so that as viewers shift their gaze from the bottom to the top, they experience the seasons in order: spring, summer, fall, and winter. This concept was planned with the 20-meter-tall media tower in mind. Since people view the piece from below the tower, their gaze naturally travels upward. The artwork aligns with this perspective and is brought to life as a media art video, featuring effects like flower petals blowing in spring and snowflakes falling in winter to create a dynamic, immersive experience.
An artist can achieve many things beyond creating their artwork, but when it comes to specialized areas, differences in quality and detail can emerge. To bring my envisioned work to life, elements that would enhance its vibrancy were essential—these included animation, music, and video production. Each aspect added significant meaning to the overall piece, and because the project was thoroughly planned from concept to execution, the final result came out well.
Since this work was created with the consideration of selling as an NFT, sharing it with NFT sales platforms was also an important aspect. It was necessary to create the artwork in advance to fit the platform's requirements, while also carefully setting the quantity and meaning to maintain its unique value. The media art piece, created along with music, was presented in a way that enhanced its appeal and value to consumers. This approach also added a new direction to the future of art, making it highly meaningful.
Through winning the A Design Award, I was able to reflect on the expression methods and the level of completion of this project. I was able to express Korean traditional animals, nature, and the four seasons in the artwork, and the use of various programs to make the images move in the video helped elevate the potential of the work to a higher level. This project was a meaningful experience as it allowed me to share the value and significance of the artwork not only online but also offline, with 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.
