Even when Park's body is somewhere far, his mind stays in his work and his studio.
Master artist Park Honggu wasn’t always an artist by trade – in fact he spent his early adult years working in a factory, but, when his son was born, he wanted to show him that life had different possibilities. Park didn’t just teach his son – he lived by example. As Park says “I wanted my son to look over my shoulder and learn to live the kind of life he should live.” Park says that though he didn’t have money, he felt he could gift his son a life that was rooted in philosophy, art, and open mindedness. Through this process, Park fell in love with woodworking himself. (It’s no surprise the artist’s son is applying to art school in Europe). He doesn’t plan for what art he will create each day, but lives in the present – each day is to fulfill the desires of the day. Park only uses Korean wood. He appreciates that Korean wood faces each of the four seasons, as a human does, and because of this he has a fondness for Korean wood. Park sources his inspiration within his compound’s walls – from the dew, the sky, the blades of grass or the changing seasons. He doesn’t need to leave his space to find a spark as even when his body is somewhere far, his mind stays in his work and his studio.
