AP Studio Art in Cheongshim

<Image 2: Though Nam June Paik was not fluent in Korean, his notebooks frequently portray his efforts to rediscover his native tongue>

On March 7th, the first iteration of AP Studio Art opened for 2024’s cohort of students. The class comprises 25 high schoolers, all tired from their first week in a new grade. With that, there seemed to be a very apparent need for relaxation, or in other words, artistic tranquility. It was incredibly admirable to see how students expanded their concentration post-school hours to immerse themselves in something entirely different.

Professor Lee started his lecture with an introduction to an artist named Nam June Paik. Paik was a pioneer in performance and technology-based art. However, most notably, he was known for scribbling artistic thought bubbles into paper, unhesitant, on whatever was available at the moment. Taking inspiration from Paik, the Professor advised the class always to keep a small notebook. Not to take notes, nor to study - but to simply record their thoughts. In more informal words, Professor Lee advised the class to indulge in the humble activity of “끄적끄적“ (ggeujeok- ggeujok). The Korean onomatopoeia humorously translates to “scribble” in English. Lee pointed out that this corresponds to leaving your mark on the world and making your history.

The AP Studio Art class further expanded on controversial topics in the art community, one of them being plagiarism. In the Professor’s words, he believed wholeheartedly that copying does not exist in art. Copying another individual’s work is nothing but making one’s edition of the piece. Above all, art is a movement. Art is an expression. Thus, the moment a pen touches paper, it is an entirely new genre of emotion and expression. 

During the latter half of Professor Lee’s three-hour class, the students passionately discussed the art of life. In particular, one of many memorable moments is when he passionately recited that to be an artist, one must be unapologetically proud. In all forms of expression, being shy diminishes the authenticity of emotion. Therefore, the professor says, the importance of “being confident enough to scream your thoughts out” is immeasurable.

Aside from the aforementioned points, the AP Studio Art class indulged in a myriad of different ideas: What does it mean to be an artist? Is art a path of financial ruin? How has ‘ism’ changed throughout art history? Why do many Greek sculptures not have pupils? Is art unproductive? All of these questions were prodded with deep examination and careful thought. Needless to say, in a society of violently diminished artistic value, I sincerely hope that this may be a new opportunity to replenish creativity in Cheongshim. A big thank you to Professor Lee!