Shin Se-won
Shin Sewon (Sewon Shin/ Korean: 신세원, Hanja: 申世圓) is a South Korean artist.[1][2] He is the founder of Trans-Art.[3][4]
His art provided a basis for the reformation of the Korean religious foundation known as Hanol-gyo.[5]
Career
- Grand prize in the 28th Korean National Youth Art competition[6]
- Georgetown Preparatory school, MD., USA[7]
- Oxford University, Politics Philosophy and Economics (PPE) B.A., M.A.[8]
- (Former) CEO of HI&T Inc.[9]
- (Former) Chairman of Hanon Group[10]
- (Former) Chairman of Hanol foundation[11]
- Honorary Consul of Iraq in Korea[2]
- Founder of Trans-Art
Early Exhibitions
Sewon Shin studied in the United States as a reward of winning 1st prize in the 28th Korean National Youth Art competition at the age of 13.[12] (At that time, Korea was under a strict military regime and studying abroad was prohibited).
He held two solo exhibitions[13] in Seoul[7] and Tokyo[14] while he was in high school.[15]
- First Solo Exhibition in Seoul, Korea at the age of 17[16]
- Sponsor: Seoul Kyung-in Gallery, Monthly Art World
- Support: The Chosun Daily Newspaper
- Second Solo Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan at the age of 19[13]
- Sponsor: Tokyo Odakyu Gallery, The Korean-Japanese Cultural Exchange Association
- Cooperation: The Sankei Newspaper
At the Tokyo exhibition, he introduced a new concept of art called 'Super-individualism art[17] (i.e. Trans-Ego art)'. In conveying Super-Individualism Art, he combined music, scent, optical illusion and time & space factors, and proposed the use of an orchestra, a train and train station and even a whole mountain in the performance of his art.[18]
Business
After his attempt to use Seoul Namsan Tower to perform his new concept of installation art failed (due to city regulations), he decided to give up his art. After graduating from Georgetown Prep school, instead of pursuing art, he majored in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University.[8]
However, Sewon's father had a stroke while he was attending his son's graduation at Oxford (he was hospitalized in Radcliffe Infirmary), and died a year after he was transferred to Korea.[19] Sewon gave up further studies and returned to Korea immediately.[20]
His father was the founder of Hanol religious foundation,[21] as well as a politician (the Presidential Candidate of the Unified Korea Party who ran for the Presidency of South Korea twice),[22] and an entrepreneur (the Chairman of the Hanon Group).[23]
After the founder died, the Hanon group and the Hanol-gyo foundation suffered critically from the Korean IMF financial crisis. As a legal descendant, Sewon inevitably took on his father’s entire responsibility and restructured the foundation.[11]
As a deputy Chairman of the Hanon Group and CEO of HI&T (a holding company), he restructured most of its subsidiary companies[24] and finalized his father’s major business initiatives,[25] including an agreement to develop one of the largest crude oil mines in Iraq (a consortium with Samsung, SK, Korean National Oil Development Corporation, where HI&T was the Managing Partner & Directing Initiator).[24] He also acquired an official agreement to develop internet-telecommunication systems[26] for the Iraqi government. (unexecuted due to the Iraq war)[27]
His business and diplomatic contributions were recognized by both the Korean and Iraqi governments:[28] On the request of the Iraqi National Assembly and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and after the approval of Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Minister’s approval),[26] he was appointed to the Honorary Consul in 2000.[29] He was very dedicated to humanitarian activities for children suffering from the war in Iraq. He supplied them with medicine[30] and his brother, Se-Yong Shin[31] established UHIC (United Help for International Children),[32] an organization which is very active in helping suffering children all over the world.[33]
In 2001, he was selected as one of ‘21 young power leaders of Korea of the 21st century' by the Seoul Economy - Financial Daily.[9]
Spiritual art
After stabilizing the Hanon group, Sewon was obliged to restructure the Hanol religious foundation. He attempted to integrate ‘art’ with ‘Spirituality’ in order to transform Hanol-gyo into a more liberal, flexible and innovative organization. His art provided a basis for the reformation of Hanol-gyo.[34]
In accordance with the founder’s last will, he succeeded in persuading the board and the Hanol spiritual committee to officially approve ‘Spiritual Acceptance’ which makes religious conversion unnecessary and constitutionalized religious multiplicity to allow its participants from diverse backgrounds to practice other religions as well.[35]
According to the guidance to Hanol-gyo, he expressed the essence of the transcendental teachings on enlightenment and awakening - the self-liberation of consciousness.[36]
"Illuminating the uncontaminated lights of Enlightenment Art could represent the quintessence of the Hanol Spirit better than a thousand books about its analysis or explanation."
— Hanol-gyo official website, Hanol Innovation[37]
He officially proclaimed that the symbolic function of the regional chapels of HANOL could be replaced by the “Art of Enlightenment”, and allowed particular traditional ceremonies and the formality of rituals to be substituted by a simple contemplation on the Spiritual Art or meditation on self-awareness. He attempted to transform the existing belief system by integrating ‘Art and Spirituality’. Sewon introduced the concept of 'Spiritual Audience' instead of the traditional notion of religious followers.[35]
After Sewon Shin reformed the Hanol-gyo foundation, he resigned from all of his duties and returned to his art in order to introduce a new form of art called Trans-art.[11]
Trans-Art
Trans-Art (also known as Trans-form Art or Transcendental Art) can be considered as the re-establishment of the 'Art of Enlightenment and Awakening’ in a fine art form (non-religious form)[38] and the elaboration of "Super-Individual art[18] (i.e. Trans-ego art)” which he introduced at the Tokyo exhibition.[39]
In Part 1: Optical Awakening, the artist expresses spiritual transcendence by using the multi-dimensional perspectives that he acquired from his own personal experience of spiritual awakening.[40]
In Part 2: Tasting Art (Taste of Awakening), he integrates Art with Taste in order to express a glimpse of awakening by providing an extraordinary tasting experience.[41]
In Part 3: Mobile Art, he combines Technology with Art; the audience can participate in art directly, experiencing their collective sentiment using a smart-phone devices.[42]
According to the official website, "Trans-Art is ‘art’ that transcends the conventional form of art: the Trans-artist attempts to express the ‘Enlightenment and Awakening’, which is beyond ‘Form’, by using the ‘multi-dimensional expression method’ that he acquired from his own experience of the ‘enlightening and awakening’ process."[43]
According to the guidance to Trans-Art, Trans Art Part 1, the multi-dimensional expression of "Enlightenment and Awakening", can be perceived and experienced as an indirect experience of ‘Spiritual Transcendence’ and a ‘Glimpse of Awakening’ in the form of art – “the preview of the Ego dis-identification which entails the separation of Mind (Ego) & Consciousness (True Nature)”.
In his major work, the ‘Optical Awakening series’, the artist shows the consecutive stages of the ‘Enlightenment and Awakening’ process based on his own experience. The series comprises 'Awakening Dimensions', ‘Initiation of Awakening’, ‘Awakening True-Nature’, ‘Flash of Enlightening’, ‘Trans-Perceiving Ego’, ‘Dark-side of Ego’, ‘Trans-Quantum Physics of Mind’, ‘Trans-Perceiving Mental Synapse’, ‘Self-Liberation’, ‘Breaking Free’, ‘Quest for Immortality’, and ‘Trans-Perception’.[44]
Hanol Spiritual and Cultural Movement of Art
Hanol Spiritual and Cultural Movement of Art refers to a new type of religious endeavor through which anyone can experience the “Hanol philosophy” through art, without religious obligation or participation.[45]
In commemoration of the 50th anniversary re-establishment, Hanol-gyo general assembly officially agreed upon reformation and endorsed the Hanol Spiritual & Cultural Movement of Art.[46]
At the official request of Hanol-gyo, the artist provided his artworks for the Hanol Spiritual & Cultural Movement of Art which enabled the audience to experience the philosophy of “Spiritual Acceptance” of diverse spiritual culture without any conventional religious activity.[40]
His art provided the basis for the 1st and the 2nd reformation of Hanol-gyo.[46] It presented a new possibility for the “Spiritual Acceptance” of diverse culture and structural evolution of religion by expanding the religious boundaries to include a wider perspective.[47]
The Gates
"The Gates", the signature artwork of Optical Awakening, is inspired by la Porte de I'Enfer -The Gates of Hell, the unfinished masterpiece by Rodin.[48]
The Artist reinterpreted The Gates of Hell and re-established it as the ‘Gates of Heaven(Nirvana)’ by using a mirror that symbolizes the reflection of the perceiver's inner state.[49]
While The Gates of Hell symbolizes the beginning of indefinite suffering from one side, it could also symbolize the end of suffering from the other side if one could extricate oneself from hell through the gates.[50]
He reconciles the Western religious definition of Hell (The beginning of endless suffering or the punishment of God) with the Eastern Buddhist terminology of Nirvana (The end of suffering).
The Gates series were developed into different forms such as sculpture, painting, lenticular and online art.
Tasting-Art
Trans-Art Part 2 Tasting Art, is to express and experience a glimpse of your ‘True Nature : your inner quality which allows you to recognize beauty in the first place’ by providing an extraordinary tasting experience.[51]
The artist uses ‘taste’ as a means to express a glimpse of awakening by providing a 'once in a lifetime tasting exhibition' for an audience to experience the moment of speechless and mindless state of consciousness.[42][52]
His first Tasting Art exhibition was held at the UE restaurant and cultural space, Samsungdong, Kangnamgu, Seoul, Korea, introducing opus 1 ‘Tasting Blossom’, opus 2 ‘Korean Suicide Stopper’ and opus 3 ’The Cho’.[53][41]
Evolving Art
The Korean Trans-Artist Team (KTAT, Phase 3) introduced a new form of art called “Evolving Art”, as its 3rd major project.[54]
The Evolving Art is an online art project that literally evolves indefinitely as long as its number of participants increases. The Evolving Art, namely <Super O>, is designed to expand its features using either the macro scale expansion method or the micro-quantum scale expansion method in which it continues to evolve indefinitely without limitations of time and space through an algorithm that expands in either macro scale or micro scales.[55]
The circular O-shape of <Super O> symbolizes the common denominator of L”O”VE, H”O”PE, and “O”NENESS. It also represents the necessity of mutual co-existence of the human race, which aspires to transcend all barriers such as the conflicts and confrontations between ideologies, religions, states, races, genders, and cultures through this new type of art movement.[56]
See also
References
- ^ 신세원 (Shin Se-won) JoongAng Ilbo people
- ^ a b 신세원 (Shin Se-won) Chosun Ilbo people
- ^ "Trans-Art as an evolution of religious art". Kyunghyang daily.
- ^ "Trans-Art expressing religious principle, Optical Awakening presents the essence of the truth through art". The Korea Economic Daily.
- ^ "A Quantum Leap in the religious sector by the integration of Art and Spirituality, The Trans-Artist introducing Optical Awakening". Hankyung (Korean Economy) TV.
- ^ 미 유학 3년만에 귀국전-고교생 신세원군 「중앙일보」 Art Exhibition by High-School Student, Solo Exhibition by Teen Age Painter Sewon Shin After 3year of Studying in the US 「JoongAng Ilbo」, August 22, 1990.
- ^ a b 17세 소년 화단 데뷔 신세원군 경인미술관서 초대전 동아일보 1990-08-17 Dong-A Ilbo 17year-old teenager makes his art debut-Se Won Shin's Solo exhibition at Kyung In Art Gallery. August 17th, 1990
- ^ a b 신세원(Shin Se-won) Naver people
- ^ a b "20C 위기 21C 번영으로 한국號 젊은 피가 이끈다" 21세기 한국리더 영파워 21인. Seoul Economic Daily "The transformation of the 20C crisis into 21C prosperity by Korean young bloods" 21 young power leaders of Korea in the 21st century, January 1st, 2001
- ^ Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Iraq in Seoul Official website
- ^ a b c The 50th Anniversary of Hanolgyo - Spreading the Hanol spirit based on humanitarian aims Power Korea. February 2015 issue, P. 71~77
- ^ The 28th National Art Competition『Youth Chosun Ilbo』, November 20, 1986.
- ^ a b 소년화가 신세원 日 초대전 Teenage Artist Se won Shin Solo Exhibition in Japan 매일경제신문 July 13th, 1992 Maeil Business Newspaper
- ^ "In Tokyo Debut Shin Se-won To Present Fantastic Paintings" The Korea Times, July 18, 1992
- ^ Boy’s imaginative oil painting hit gallery row. Shin Se-won, attending high school in U.S. shows talent at Seoul exhibit. Sunday, August 26, 1990. Korea Herald
- ^ High School Student Shin Displaying 50 Paintings 『Korea Times』, August 21, 1990.
- ^ 현장의 작가 - 신세원 때묻지 않은 감수성의 힘 <리규화 기자,월간 미술, 1992년 8월호> An artist in the field, Se won Shin, the power of pure emotion(Journalist KyuHwaRi, Monthly Arts, Published by JoongAng Ilbo Company August 1992, Pg.102)
- ^ a b 해외전시 신세원展 Super Individual Art (월간 아뜨리에 1992년 8월호 통권 제17호 p.68~69) Overseas Exhibition - Se Won Shin Exhibit - Super Individual Art (Monthly Atelier August 1992 issue Volume 17 p.68~69)
- ^ Shin Jeong Yil, Founder of ‘Hanol-gyo’, Deceased Yonhap News, April 6th, 1999. Journalist Hee Yong Lee
- ^ "집중화제 주한 이라크 명예영사 최연소 명예영사 신세원씨 이라크 정부로부터 정보통신망 구축 승인" (강동신문 2001년 1월 1일 한성민 기자) Focus Issue - Sewon Shin, the youngest diplomat, Honorary consul of Iraq, Approval by the Iraqi government to build the Internet-telecommunication network for the Iraqi Government (Kangdong Daily, January 1st, 2001, Journalist Sungmin Han)
- ^ "Hanol-gyo" (in Korean). Encyclopædia Britannica online Korea. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
- ^ "Shin Jeong-yil" (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
- ^ "Shin Jeong-yil" (in Korean). Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
- ^ a b 주한 이라크 명예영사 신세원 HI&T 대표 이기동기자, 매경이코노미 October 11th, 2002. Maeil Business Economy. Se Won Shin, CEO of HI&T : An Honorary Consul of Iraq, Journalist Ki Dong Lee
- ^ 한얼상사 이라크 진출 화제 (매일경제 11면 1997년7월3일 김선걸 기자). Hanol Trading Company’s Launch in Iraq (Daily Maeil Economy, P.11, July 3rd, 1997 Journalist Sun Gul Kim)
- ^ a b HI&T, 이라크국가정보망 구축..인터넷공사와 합의 한국경제. HI&T, Initiating National Internet network… consulting Internet Govt Corp (Korea Economic Daily December 14th, 2000, Journalist Deok Gil)
- ^ 김신곤 기자 벤처기업, 이라크 국가정보망 구축사업 참여 영남일보 2000년 12월18일. Korean Venture: Acquiring the right to develop Iraqi telecommunication infrastructure <Young Nam Daily. December 14> Journalist Singon Kim
- ^ "신세원 HI&T 사장, 이라크 통신망 구축 추진 음성백본망, 인터넷라인 등 2억불규모". Seoul Economic Daily. Se Won Shin, HI&T CEO, Honorary Consul of Iraq, Initiation of Infrastructure: The consulting rights on the Iraqi internet telecommunication system: Voice back-bone structure, internet network, etc. the $200 million (USD) budget scale. December 14th, 2000.
- ^ "명예 이라크 영사로 임명 Appointment of Honorary Consul of Iraq". Hankook Ilbo. 2000-12-14.
- ^ "의약품전달 신뢰복구 계기로 주한 이라크 명예총영사 신세원씨 The Restoration of National Credibility The Medical supply and humanitarian effort of the Honorary consul Shin Sewon". The Hankyoreh. 2003-04-09.
- ^ Shin Seyong, Chairman of United Help for International Children
- ^ 조선일보 <신세용 국제아동돕기연합 이사장> 2013년10월8일 주선영 기자. Seyong Shin, United Help for International Children’s Aid Alliance Chairman. The Chosun Ilbo October 8th, 2013. Journalist Sun Young Ju
- ^ MBC 이브닝뉴스 이슈&인터뷰 국제아동돕기연합 신세용 이사장 MBC Evening News Broadcast Issue&Interview Shin Seyong, the founder of United Help for International Children UHIC. 2013-03-04
- ^ 특이점을 맞이한 정신문화 시각견성《Korea Economic Daily TV》2017-08-07. A Quantum Leap in the religious sector by the integration of art and spirituality, Optical Awakening
- ^ a b Hanol-gyo Encyclopedia of Korean Culture
- ^ Hanol-gyo official website
- ^ Hanol Innovation
- ^ Introduction to Trans-Art 'Art of Transcendence'
- ^ Super-Individual art Art of Enlightenment and Awakening official website
- ^ a b "Art expressing religious principle, Optical Awakening presents the essence of the truth through art (시각견성, 진리의 본질을 미술로 나타내다)" (in Korean). Korea Economic Daily.
- ^ a b "Eating the Art? Tasting Art Exhibition 미술을 먹는다? 미각미술 시연 전시회 개최". Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). 2016-11-07. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
- ^ a b "Transcending the Form: Art of Tasting 시각을 넘어선 '미각' 통한 미술". SBS CNBC (in Korean). 2016-11-07. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
- ^ Art of Transcendence - Artist Official website
- ^ Optical Awakening series
- ^ "Hanol Spiritual & Cultural Movement of Art". Hanol-gyo official website.
- ^ a b "The prelude to spiritual singularity: Trans-Renaissance 'Optical Awakening' (특이점의 서막 트랜스 르네상스, '시각견성')" (in Korean). www.ekn.kr.
- ^ 정신문화의 새로운 패러다임 '시각견성'《SBS CNBC》2017-08-04. New religious paradigm : Optical Awakening
- ^ 시각견성, 종교미술의 진화로 ‘눈길'《경향신문》2017-08-05. Optical Awakening attracts attention as an evolution of religious art 《Kyunghyang Shinmun》
- ^ 새로운 정신문화의 가능성, '보면서 깨우치는 미술'...모바일 갤러리 오픈《KNS 뉴스통신》2017-08-05. 'Awakening by Art' - a new possibility of spiritual culture in the face of intellectual singularity 《KNS News》
- ^ Reinterpretation of The Gates of Hell, an incomplete masterpiece by Rodin, “News 1”
- ^ "Eating Art? Tasting-Art exhibition begins on 7th". JTBC News. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ^ "The Trans-Artist shows Tasting-Art on 7th". Seoul Shinmun (in Korean). 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
- ^ Do you know ‘Tasting Art?’ Trans-artist exhibition begis. Dong-A Ilbo 8 November 2016.
- ^ “Forever Evolving Art, Focus on the <Super O> Project” 《Daily Donga》 2019.09.30
- ^ “The Message from <Super O>, Mutual Co-Existence of the Human Race” 《Korea Economy》 2019.09.28
- ^ “Art that Evolves Indefinitely, Evolving Art" 《Korea Economics TV》 2019.09.29