졸업작품으로 조회수 500만 찍은 광기(?)의 미대생 만나봄 / 스브스뉴스

Summary

A 24-year-old art student, specializing in Buddhist art, created an extraordinary painting of the Maitreya Sutra, capturing Maitreya Bodhisattva’s passing of enlightenment. With over 2,300 hours of work, the artist combined traditional Goryeo Dynasty techniques with modern interpretations. The detailed artwork, praised by the Cultural Heritage Administration, reflects intense dedication and innovation, blending ancient Buddhist themes with contemporary aesthetics. The artist’s future aspirations include creating even more ambitious works, aiming to modernize and promote Korean Buddhist art, preserving its beauty while introducing new perspectives.

Takeaways

• 😀 A 24-year-old art student created a remarkable painting of Maitreya Bodhisattva that has resonated with Buddhists nationwide.
• 😀 The painting depicts the Maitreya Bodhisattva passing on enlightenment 5.67 billion years after his birth, attracting millions of views on TikTok and YouTube.
• 😀 The artwork measures 230cm in height and 140cm in width, far exceeding the height of an average adult.
• 😀 The artist spent around 10 months creating the painting, totaling 2,340 hours of work, with some days lasting up to 12 hours without sleep.
• 😀 Some critics mistakenly accused the artist of tracing, but the artist emphasized the meticulous process of sketching proportions and creating every detail by hand.
• 😀 The creation involved three months of preparation and another three months for the coloring process, drawing inspiration from the Goryeo Dynasty's painting techniques.
• 😀 The painting includes intricate details like animals (tigers, dragons, rabbits) on the Bodhisattva's robes, using real gold mixed with other materials.
• 😀 The artist incorporated modern elements, such as three-dimensional floor tiles and facial features reflecting contemporary beauty standards.
• 😀 Despite challenges, the artist's persistence and dedication led to the creation of a beautiful and meaningful artwork, which has contributed to the awareness of Korean Buddhist art.
• 😀 The artist aims to continue innovating and promoting Korean Buddhist art, setting goals for future works, including those with 5,000 hours of effort in their 20s and 10,000 hours in their 30s.

Q & A

What is the subject matter of the painting created by the art student?

The painting depicts a scene from the Maitreya Sutra, showing Maitreya Bodhisattva passing on enlightenment to many people 5.67 billion years after his birth. It includes various divine figures, such as Bodhisattvas, gods, and the four heavenly kings, gathered around to receive a sermon.

How long did the art student take to complete the painting?

The student worked on the painting for about 10 months, with a total of 2340 hours spent on the project. The student dedicated between 8 and 12 hours daily to the painting, and in the final stages, worked without sleep for several days.

What challenges did the artist face during the painting process?

The artist faced several challenges, including accusations of tracing, the difficulty of lining up straight lines, and the intense pressure of completing intricate details. Despite these challenges, the artist persevered, gaining know-how as they worked.

What techniques were used in the creation of the painting?

The artist used a method involving multiple steps. After sketching with pencil, they added thin line paper, which was then turned into a canvas. The painting was layered with diluted paints, a technique known as Barim, which added depth and subtle colors. The details on the hems and clothes were done using real gold mixed with materials.

How does the artist describe the visual style and modern interpretation of the painting?

The artist modernized certain aspects of traditional Buddhist art. For example, the perspective of the floor tiles was changed to three-dimensional, and the facial features of characters were adjusted to reflect contemporary beauty standards, blending the past and present in the artwork.

What feedback did the artist receive from others?

The artist received praise from their professor, who expressed pride in their work. However, their friends found the process somewhat extreme, referring to the artist's dedication as 'psycho.' Despite this, the artist felt proud of the accomplishment and the recognition it garnered.

What was the artist's motivation behind creating this painting?

The artist wanted to create something meaningful and unique, dedicating a year to focus on this project. The goal was to produce a painting that would both honor Buddhist traditions and promote Korean Buddhist art.

How does the artist view the impact of AI-generated art on the field of traditional art?

The artist acknowledges the popularity of AI-generated art but emphasizes that their work is grounded in Buddhist belief and faith, making it more meaningful and authentic. They believe that traditional art, like the Buddhist art they create, can still survive in today's world.

What are the artist's future aspirations regarding Buddhist art?

The artist hopes to continue promoting Korean Buddhist art by reinterpreting it in modern ways. They have set ambitious goals, aiming to create a piece requiring 5,000 hours of work in their 20s and 10,000 hours in their 30s.

What does the artist hope the public will do after learning about their work?

The artist hopes that people will become more interested in Korean Buddhist art, appreciate its beauty, and develop a deeper understanding of the field. They encourage viewers to explore and support Buddhist art more broadly.