CBT met with Heo Seon-jae (14, the Dept, of Business Administration, Daejeon University), a prop artist, who draws original and interesting pictures using props that are easily accessible in everyday life. He is an ordinary college student studying Business Administration during the day, but he works as an artist at night. It is cool that he does his best by following what he likes and by not being afraid of challenging himself with new things. We would like to hear his story, not only as an artist but also as a college student struggling to find his way. -Ed.


1. What made you interested in prop art?

  Rather than naturally being interested in prop art, I accidentally happened upon it. When I was working as a conscripted policeman, a citizen gave me a piece of bungeoppang (Korean carp-shaped bun) and accidentally placed it on a sketch pad. I always carry a sketch pad and a pen in order to draw whenever I have time, as I like drawing pictures. However, one side of its head looked so empty, so I unconsciously drew a human face in the blank area around it. Then, a strange creature with a human face and a carp body was born. At that time, I thought that, if I could use other handy props around as well, I could paint interesting pictures while also covering up for my lack of actual drawing skills. I think that’s how my interest in drawing pictures using props originated.




2. Where do you usually get your inspiration from?

  It is usually not a special thing, just something in my vicinity, like crackers or a cup of coffee, that I see during a conversation. They are all sources of inspiration for me. If I think about drawing something about a cracker, I keep looking at it and think about it. I turn it around, flip it and possibly break it. Sometimes, a good idea crosses my mind, but when it doesn’t, I keep thinking about it. In one of my paintings, there is a work where a girl is jumping on nail clippers. The idea came to mind when I was cutting my nails without much thought. When you press and release nail clippers, the nail bounces away. When I saw that once, I suddenly thought of neolttwigi (a Korean jumping game similar to see-sawing) and drew the piece. I think there are many times when a good idea comes to my mind in everyday life. Whenever I think of an idea, I always write it down. And when I go back home, I try to draw it.

3. Could you tell us about some of your artworks that you are proud of?

  There is a picture that shows two elders riding a bike. The bicycle has a pair of compasses instead of wheels. I like that one. It represents lovers looking in the same direction. I also like the Welsh Corgi picture that many women seem to like and another one that shows a father and son each sitting on a banana milk. The son is washing his father’s back. When I was a kid, I always had a banana milk in my hand after a shower with my father at the sauna. Many men would probably agree with me. It was kind of a rite passage. The pictures that show my childhood are the ones I’m fonder of. People can catch what my pictures represent just by looking at them. I guess that is why I like the ones that have a story.

4. You were just a normal undergraduate student before becoming famous. Were there any differences after you got famous?

  Well, there are too many to list, but the biggest one I guess is that my life has completely changed. I uploaded my art on SNS and many people began to appreciate it. Then, I got the chance to be on TV. After those experiences, I found out that people’s interest doesn’t last long. After exactly 3 months, I was back living the life of an ordinary undergraduate student. My Instagram followers increased, but I was still a student studying management. After being on TV, I got lots of hateful comments, which made me really stressful, so I began to feel skeptical about relationships in general because of that. Becoming famous caused me to draw pictures that the public liked instead of what I wanted to draw. I thought of giving up on drawing, but that wasn’t the right thing to do. The answer was to draw what I wanted, not what others wanted. Since then, I have just drawn what I want to draw, and it’s fun again.




5. Could you tell us about your daily routine?

  I’m a scholarship student with a job, so from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every weekday, my schedule is full of classes and work. From 6 to 7 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday, I study TOEIC. After that, I start drawing. I eat dinner and do a workout at the gym on the other days. It’s usually about 9 p.m. when I get back from the gym, so I start drawing then. During semesters, I guess I draw about 3 to 4 hours a day. I’m also doing some musical work, so if no bright idea comes up, I write songs or record something on the mic.

6. What was your motivation for doing this work, and how did you overcome your fear and follow your dream? 

  First, I’m not afraid because I’m a student. I try to feel relaxed and just do what I like as I don’t have a job yet and I’m still a university student. If I can’t change situations, my principle is not to worry about them. When I first drew pictures, there was no reaction for one year. Those around me pointed out that they didn’t believe my works were art. If I gave up at that moment, my current situation wouldn’t have happened. However, I did it because I loved it, so I didn’t care what anybody said, and I kept painting. I wish people wouldn’t care about what other people say. If they love the work, they should just do it, like Nike’s slogan ‘Just do it.’ I want people to take enough time to consider who they are and what they want to do.

7. What is your final dream?

  My short-term dream is to work as a YouTuber, so I’m studying about YouTube now. I am preparing a YouTube video this month. I think I will work in the field of management in the future because I am studying it now. I am not sure about painting yet. I will surely keep drawing, but I don’t know whether I can make a profession as a painter. I would prefer to work in an area of marketing. I think marketing is similar to art. Each person thinks differently about art. One person might think art is painting, but another might think it is creating something. People can think differently about marketing and art, so those areas have something in common. Management studies make me feel interested in learning more, just like drawing. Moreover, I will keep drawing until I die, whether it is just a hobby or a job. I could draw pictures as a hobby while I’m working because there is no rule limiting me to one or the other.

8. Finally, do you want to say something to Chungbuk National University students as a fellow university student?

  I hope everyone can spend university lifetime well without regret. Everything that you experience can be a foundation, so it is important to seek what you like without hesitation.

By Kim Min-ji l mj39@cbnu.ac.kr
By Youn Su-o l sy40@cbnu.ac.kr
By Jung Jin-ju l asd030@cbnu.ac.kr