Ha Jung-woo "I painted every day from 9 to 6... Will people appreciate my work when I'm in my 70s?" [Gallery Walk]

Hakgojae Gallery, New Works Including Carpet Series and Masks Revealed Until November 16
"I Believe in the 10,000-Hour Rule"
"Though the Paintings Are Unfamiliar and Clumsy, I Work with Sincerity"

"I worked every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., keeping to my 'routine.' Fortunately, I had no filming schedule this year, so I prepared for the exhibition with full dedication."

Now in his 15th year since his first solo exhibition, painter Ha Jung-woo's journey has been solidified through consistent effort, with 13 solo exhibitions to date, going beyond a mere hobby. He is now holding a solo exhibition at the large gallery Hakgojae. In line with the philosophy of Hakgojasin (學古創新 ? learning from the old to create the new), which emphasizes harmony between tradition and modernity, it is an unusual event for a non-full-time artist and actor like him to hold a solo exhibition here.

Actor Ha Jung-woo holding a solo exhibition at Hakgojae Gallery in Samcheong-dong, Seoul.
[Photo by Hakgojae Gallery] [Image source=Yonhap News]

The exhibition runs until November 16 at Hakgojae in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. The exhibition title, "Never Tell Anybody Outside the Family," is a famous line from Ha Jung-woo’s favorite movie, The Godfather, meaning "Don’t tell anyone outside the family your thoughts." In this exhibition, he presents 35 new works completed with full dedication.

Ha Jung-woo, Untitled, 2023, Mixed media on canvas, 162.2 x 130.3 cm. [Photo courtesy of Hakgojae Gallery]

At a press conference held ahead of the exhibition opening on the 16th, Ha Jung-woo recalled, "I started painting to endure an uncertain future after graduating from university. Painting was so exciting, and that time was a moment of comfort for me." He confessed that while painting, he had no other thoughts. During the filming of the 2013 movie Heo Sam-gwan, which he directed and starred in, he suffered extreme anxiety. At the accommodation in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, where the filming took place, he hung canvas cloths on the walls and filled them with lines and drawings every night to soothe his turbulent emotions.

He continued, "I held my first solo exhibition in 2010. Although I don’t have anything to boast about (in terms of paintings), I think it is the accumulation of time and passion that has brought me this far," sharing his thoughts.

Without any grand plans, Ha Jung-woo said he reached this point simply because painting comforted him. "I just went with the flow and came this far," he said with an embarrassed smile. Especially, standing before the press for the first time ahead of an exhibition opening rather than a film release, he expressed special feelings about this exhibition, saying, "Although I have held several exhibitions before, receiving this exhibition proposal made it feel more special."

Ha Jung-woo, 'Mute Untitled', 2024, Mixed media on canvas.
[Photo by Hakgojae Gallery]

Ha Jung-woo’s artistic style, characterized by bold colors and vivid primary hues depicting people around him or everyday objects, is focused on 'carpets and masks' in this exhibition.

The carpet series reflects his experience during the five months he stayed in Morocco while filming the movie Unofficial Operation. "The sight of every place I visited in Morocco being covered with carpets of elaborate patterns left a strong impression," he said. On his way back, he purchased about 20 famous local carpets and began working by drawing the patterns on them, transferring these onto canvas and developing the series.

Hundreds or thousands of thin lines drawn with a black marker extend sharply in the same pattern to form a single motif, which then combines with others to create another pattern. He prefers the unique color of each paint and never mixes colors. In this exhibition, he also presents works mainly featuring bright and strong primary colors.

The mask series evokes actor Ha Jung-woo himself. Created at the request of Hakgojae, this series features masks used to cover the real face and symbolizes the 'actor' who wears different masks depending on the role assigned. A large 200-size work at the entrance of the exhibition welcomes visitors first with this motif.

Seoul Hakgojae Gallery hosting Ha Jung-woo's solo exhibition, view of the exhibition hall. [Photo by Hakgojae Gallery] [Image source=Yonhap News]

Despite 15 years of activity, 13 solo exhibitions, and time spent focusing on painting during periods without filming schedules, criticism from some quarters continues, questioning why a non-full-time artist with actor fame holds art exhibitions.

Ha Jung-woo said, "Since my first solo exhibition in 2010, I have heard countless stories. About 98% of them were negative, I think. Still, I believe that when I become a grandfather, in my 70s, people will look at my paintings more favorably..." He added, "Being recognized as an artist is not of great significance to me now. I just think that if I keep building depth little by little, any evaluation will come. I always recall the '10,000-hour rule' and do my best every moment."

He also said, "Being an actor is also something I was chosen for, and I think I was lucky to be chosen for this exhibition as well. If I continue this work and deepen it, I believe I will be properly evaluated someday. I think I will keep painting until I die. I consider myself half actor, half artist," he added.