Madness yet a genius. This was what crossed my mind when I came across this unusual shack on a cliff edge, literally, while hiking the Jeju Olle Trail No. 7. Mind you, it was quite a drop down that precarious ledge into treacherous terrain, wee..
Yet I was at once wildly amused by the madness of the author, and terribly intrigued by the brilliance of it all, the more I studied it.
Wooden planks to layout the spot, check. Weather extremely hot, not much shade on this stretch of trail, tie shelter to tree branches, check. Blow-away super strong winds characteristic of Jeju, use lots of strong ropes tied like a maze to secure the all-important showcase chair.. not to mention the almighty drop to heaven if it weren't, check. And lastly a fantastic view point of the ocean, the rugged rocky coast, the distant islets, check. Now all there's left was to sit..
Except I didn't quite have the courage of the mad one. The chair seemed sturdy enough when I sat my backpack on it. Stood behind was all I dared endeavour then in the bellowing winds. But the longing and regret endured way after. So being an artist which is a good skill to have when you can't live something, I painted the scene instead ;p Yes, the surreal dream of what it would be like to sit on that ledge - to rest, contemplate and admire with trepidation perhaps - the mad one's gateway to heaven, literally and metaphorically.
Title: Wanderer's Paradise 游子的天堂 (O98)
Description: Colourful surreal landscape painting inspired by a shack on a cliff edge the artist encountered while hiking the coast of Jeju Olle Trail No. 7. The scene depicts her dream sitting beholding the ocean, on a chair tied by a litany of ropes, the concoction of a mad genius perhaps, and a gateway to heaven, literally and metaphorically. Jeju Notes 2014.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 61 x 61cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com
Before visiting Jeju, I knew Korea is a colourful nation, "well-educated" was I from all the K-drama ;p Especially the period ones. I have always admired the creative use of bright blues, reds, greens, purples, in the lush costumes, contrasting, striking yet not clashing.
So it was when I arrived in Seogwipo, the southern port city of Jeju, one of the things that delighted me most - apart from discovering the Jeju Olle Trails which gave me plenty of hiking opportunities in my 10-day stay - are the colourful boats at the port. They are straight from the K-dramas, hues-wise, especially the bright blues. And there is a quaint whimsical charm in the chaotic clutter of little windows, chimneys, endless lines, rows and rows of light bulbs.. somehow reminding me of a Jap cartoon. I simply adore them!
And of all my amblings around the island, I love the fishing boats on the southern coast most, especially these striking blue ones at the little port of one Beophwan Village, which I stumbled upon while trekking the Jeju Olle Trail No. 7. I was so engrossed taking photos of these boats that I did not notice that people are bathing at a nearby spot.. Oops.. but that is another bloopers story ;p Anyway, more than any image in Jeju, I knew I would paint this scene.
So that is the story behind this boats painting. And the start of hopefully, a series to commemorate my much treasured memories of this unforgettable island.
Title: Jeju Boats 济州船 (O91)
Description: A colourful impressionist painting of delightful cluttering fishing boats at Beophwan Village, the southernmost coastal village in Korea on the Jeju Olle Trail No. 7. Jeju Notes 2013.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 76 x 76cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com
