BonHyang(본향) MixedMedia,2019 130x97cm
“MyworkseekstorecoverthescentofthisforgottenBonhyang.” “Natureissilent,yetitsvoiceresonateswithinourinnermostselves.Thoughwe alwaysdwellinitsembrace,weliveforgettingitsfragrance.Myworkseeksto recoverthescentofthisforgottenBonhyang ourtruehomeland andtoreturnitto nature,theultimaterefugeforthehumanspirit.”–KimSan*
Hispaintingspresentforestsfilledwithgrasses,trees,andtheluminousfigureofthewhitedeer (Baeknok), a symbol of longevity in East Asian tradition. For the artist, this image became especiallysignificantafterasuddenheartattackin2019,whenhefacedthebrinkofdeath.The deer, linked to Jeju mythology and the Gotjawal forests, embodies his confrontation with mortalityandhisrenewedattachmenttolife.
Throughtheseworks,KimSancreateslandscapesthatgobeyondscenery,transforminginto symbolicspacesofcreationandextinction,lifeandmyth.Theyinviteviewerstoreflectonthe essenceofexistenceandonthepossibilityofreturningtoone’struehomelandwithin.
본향(本鄕)은인간존재의근원을되묻고삶의본질을찾는매개체이다.작가는죽음의위기를경험한이후,제주의곶자 왈숲과백록(⽩⿅)의신화를통해생성과소멸,인간과자연의합일을상징적으로표현한다."
김산작가의작품세계는‘본향(本鄕)’이라는단어로집약된다.본향은사전적으로단순히태어난고향을뜻하지만,작가 가태어나고자란제주에서의본향은인간정신을지탱하는오래된사상이자신앙의대상으로이해된다. 그의작품속풍경은언뜻보면실제숲의장면처럼다가온다.그러나화면을열어보면단순한자연풍광을넘어선,인간 내면과세계에대한근원적질문이숨어있다 작가에게본향은“자신의태생에대한근본물음을던지는곳이며,내삶 의본질과염원을아우르고,인간과자연을하나로이어주는매개체”이다.
끊임없이변화하는세상속에서우리는위기와풍파를맞닥뜨린다.작가역시2019년,예기치못한급성심근경색으로 죽음의문턱에다다르는경험을했다 그극한의순간,정신적으로기댈수있었던상징적존재는곧작품속주요모티브 로자리하게된다.
화면속숲에등장하는흰사슴,백록(⽩⿅)은오래전부터장수와신령성을상징해왔다.고서에따르면사슴은천년을 살면푸른빛,백년을살면흰빛,오백년을살면검은빛을띤다고한다 작가는이신화적의미를제주의곶자왈숲과결 합시켜,개인적생사의체험과함께새로운생명성의이미지를창조한다.
BonHyang(본향) LuminousClarity
MixedMedia,2025 73x60cm
"BonHyang (本鄕) is a medium that questions the origin of existence and seeks the essenceoflife.KimSansymbolicallyexpressescreationandextinction,andtheunityof humanityand
Hispaintingspresentforestsfilledwithgrasses,trees,andtheluminousfigureofthewhite deer (Baeknok), a symbol of longevity in East Asian tradition. For the artist, this image becameespeciallysignificantafterasuddenheartattackin2019,whenhefacedthebrinkof death. The deer, linked to Jeju mythology and the Gotjawal forests, embodies his confrontationwithmortalityandhisrenewedattachmenttolife.
Through these works, Kim San creates landscapes that go beyond scenery, transforming into symbolic spaces of creation and extinction, life and myth. They inviteviewerstoreflectontheessenceofexistenceandonthepossibilityofreturning toone’struehomelandwithin.
BonHyang(본향) MixedMedia,2024 60x73cm
BonHyang(본향) MixedMedia,2024 53x73cm
