In the midst of a chilly Seoul afternoon, as snowflakes gently graced the city, I had the pleasure of meeting Kang Hui, a South Korean model, actor, and painter. Filled with warmth, Kang Hui shared insights into his creativity, where art intertwines with life, inspiration births vibrant canvases, and Smile Boy takes centre stage.

In October of this year, Kang Hui presented his beautiful piece, Focus, at the StArt Art Fair in the Saatchi Gallery in London. Inspired by a scene from the iconic film Notting Hill, Kang Hui explained how the characters’ diverse emotions facing the onslaught of photographers sparked the inception of Smile Boy in Focus. 

“One time, after watching Notting Hill, I was thinking about one specific scene, when all of the three characters came out of the house, and the only thing they faced were photographers, and [while being outside] each of them had different perspectives and feelings when they saw the crowd of reporters. [That was the time] when I thought it would be interesting to take all of these characters’ feelings and form them into the character of Smile Boy”, he shared with a grin.

The duality of Smile Boy, simultaneously excited and fearful of attention, mirrors Kang Hui’s exploration of life’s dualities: light and darkness, happiness and grief. The red curtain, a recurring concept, symbolises the division between these conflicting emotions. And while chatting with Kang Hui, he elaborated on the subject: “What I try to express in my work, and what I am still struggling with, is how to [create it] in a more direct way. We have moments of happiness in our lives, but also moments of sadness, and without a doubt, both of these feelings co-exist together. I have featured the character of Smile Boy and the red curtain to show the division between the two”.

Delving into his acting background, Kang Hui revealed that initially, he didn’t foresee the integration of acting into his painting. Yet, as life unfolded, acting became a natural “material” for expressing his artistic thoughts. This blend of worlds extends to his unique artistic style – a melding of Western paints with Asian brushstroke traditions. 

“I wanted to convey a lot of energy through very simple strokes”, he shared, then added that, “The materials I use are all sourced from the West, but I incorporate Asian [Korean] influence into my work by using an old-fashioned method of ‘one brush stroke’. Back in the day, artists used special brushes and ink and painted on a unique type of Korean paper called Hanji, and you could only paint it one brush stroke at a time. The reason why I am using this technique is because I wanted to take the directness of that style and use its rawness in my art”.

Bright and earthy colours characterise Kang Hui’s work, reflecting themes of happiness. He pondered the criteria for defining happiness and its personal significance. “I wanted to be more direct about what I desired as a person, even if it meant showing my vulnerabilities, including my fears”, he candidly expressed. However, before admitting this, he said that, “I think a lot about the meaning of happiness in general. I also asked myself a question: ‘What are the standards and criteria that define happiness? And what standards do I have as an individual person?’ I started off by exploring myself and digging into my own thoughts on happiness. And every time I work with this concept, although it seems like it’s one theme, the subject that gives me motivation for happiness changes every time”. Kang Hui paused for a second, then added that, “For instance, for the Happy Life series, the motivation came from little moments in time, places, and different circumstances. So, I tried to express those in that series”.

Discussing a live painting experience during the eleventh City Candle event, Kang Hui admitted to initial nervousness, but he also said that it was a great experience to do the live painting.

“The inspiration for that art came from the candles, and the subject of that art piece was the city of Seoul. The identity of the product I was presenting at that time had to be combined with my personal style. At first, I was struggling to think of anything good, but then I was looking at the map of Seoul, and I thought that the way the Han River divides the city is almost like a woman’s profile. I thought it would be a good idea to show Seoul and [the river that is shown in the shape of a woman’s facial profile]. As for the colours, of course there were Seoul’s candle colours [the product] and what they used on the packaging. I incorporated that in addition to the colours of Seoul at night time”.

As for his indispensable tools, besides the basics, red paint is a must for Kang Hui. Music is ever-present, providing both inspiration and occasional distraction. Refreshing walks also play a role in maintaining his creative vigour.

When asked about the definition of art, Kang Hui emphasised being honest and true to oneself, a constant theme in his work. As for the future, Smile Boy will continue to grace his canvases, coexisting with new characters and styles. Kang Hui teased Smile Boy’s potential buddies, signalling the evolution of his artistic narrative. “There are other characters I thought of, and they are on standby. That said, they haven’t been featured in any of my work yet”, the artists admitted with a chuckle. 

Looking ahead, Kang Hui has exciting projects in store. “So, for 2024, I am scheduled to shoot a programme about travelling, and in terms of my artwork, I will continue working on my paintings. If possible, I would like to have my solo exhibition next year. Having said that, I am not in any rush. I want to be happy with the results of my work before that sort of exhibition. I am also working on a short art film; hopefully, it will be ready for next year”, Kang Hui confessed. 

In Kang Hui’s work, where art is a reflection of life’s complexities and Smile Boy’s adventures, each stroke on the canvas tells a story – a story that invites us to explore, feel, and find happiness in the subtlety of existence.

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Interpreter: Roc Lee

Featured image © YG KPLUS

_{View of the Arts is an online publication that chiefly deals with films, music, and art, with an emphasis on the Asian entertainment industry. We are hoping our audience will grow with us as we begin to explore new platforms such as K-pop / K-music, and Asian music in general, and continue to dive into the talented and ever-growing scene of film, music, and arts, worldwide.}