Every piece of art holds a story that the artist wants to share with the world. When asked about a painting of her nephews at a funeral entitled “May Rest in Peace”, Soonjurng shared “I’m so thankful for them since they are alive, and they have the blood that can be passed on from generation to generation…I started drawing to commemorate.” Soonjurng Kwon (Degree Fellow, MFA 2005) is one of the artists featured in the art exhibition “Reflections in Water” at the East-West Center. We were able to sit down with her and hear about her journey returning to the art world.

Soonjurng first learned about the East-West Center when she was as a participant of NICE (New Intensive Courses of English) at the University of Hawaiʻi. At the time, she stayed at Hale Kuahine on the East-West Center campus. Although not an East-West Center participant herself, her next door neighbor from Taiwan shared the numerous opportunities and international experiences at the Center.

Soonjurng later pursued her MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in Fiber Arts at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa as an East-West Center Student Affiliate. She considered her time at the East-West Center as “golden”, providing her the opportunity to meet people from around the world. “We cooked together and had conversations all the time. Before I felt like I just knew my country and nothing about the others…But at the time I felt, we are all just together, like the whole world, and I’m one of them.”

After completing her program and graduating, she returned to Seoul, Korea. As she continued to make a living, she slowly turned away from art. “…After graduation, I had a hard time living in Korea economically. So, I didn't really make art. I just lived to make a living.”

Soonjurng’s heart changed during a recent life event. “My father passed away last year. So that was kind of motivation to restart. To say “Dad, I'm sorry, I didn't do my drawing and painting, my dream didn’t come true when you were alive, but you made me restart after your death.”

As she restarted her journey to achieve her dreams, the East-West Center sent out a call to alumni to submit their watercolor pieces as a part of their exhibition “Water in Reflection”. She submitted her two pieces “May Rest in Peace” and “Glad to See You Again”.

“May Rest in Peace” commemorated her father’s passing. “I tried not to remember my father’s death, but I had to keep thinking about it…I went back home and thought, I have to do something for him. Because of COVID, I couldn’t see him much and he died alone. I saw him just two days before, and we had some conversation. But I didn’t expect him to pass that soon. I couldn’t look at his picture or anything because my heart was broken. So instead, I wanted to devote something to him. That’s why I decided to paint his grandsons. I drew them looking at their phones.”

If you look to the left of the piece, you will find some Korean style funeral arrangements. “I wanted to show in this piece that this was a funeral. I didn’t want my father to go, so that is why I did not paint the flowers…I didn’t want to make it complete and decided to stop there” Soonjurng commented. She also made the suit colors of her nephews brighter because they are still young and have potential.

“Glad to See You Again” depicts Soonjurng’s visit to the Art Department for the first time after 20 years. The glass workshop caught her eye. “They are always making something there…the guy pictured is a professor…I said hello to him, and he just welcomed me with a big smile. Because of COVID during my last visit, maybe there were not so many people around. But they were working there, and I was so happy to see them.”

Soonjurng was able to see her pieces in the East-West Center Art Gallery. She shared how the Center felt like a home to her. “When I stayed in Waikiki in the past, I felt so sad. I feel more comfortable staying here on campus, than in Waikiki. It’s more comfortable...here is home.”

When asked about her future, she says “I hope [to] just draw and paint… for the rest of my life. I want to give back with my paintings or drawings to make people happy.”

Every piece of art holds a story that the artist wants to share with the world. When asked about a painting of her nephews at a funeral entitled “May Rest in Peace”, Soonjurng shared “I’m so thankful for them since they are alive, and they have the blood that can be passed on from generation to generation…I started drawing to commemorate.” Soonjurng Kwon (Degree Fellow, MFA 2005) is one of the artists featured in the art exhibition “Reflections in Water” at the East-West Center. We were able to sit down with her and hear about her journey returning to the art world.

Soonjurng first learned about the East-West Center when she was as a participant of NICE (New Intensive Courses of English) at the University of Hawaiʻi. At the time, she stayed at Hale Kuahine on the East-West Center campus. Although not an East-West Center participant herself, her next door neighbor from Taiwan shared the numerous opportunities and international experiences at the Center.

Soonjurng later pursued her MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in Fiber Arts at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa as an East-West Center Student Affiliate. She considered her time at the East-West Center as “golden”, providing her the opportunity to meet people from around the world. “We cooked together and had conversations all the time. Before I felt like I just knew my country and nothing about the others…But at the time I felt, we are all just together, like the whole world, and I’m one of them.”

After completing her program and graduating, she returned to Seoul, Korea. As she continued to make a living, she slowly turned away from art. “…After graduation, I had a hard time living in Korea economically. So, I didn't really make art. I just lived to make a living.”

Soonjurng’s heart changed during a recent life event. “My father passed away last year. So that was kind of motivation to restart. To say “Dad, I'm sorry, I didn't do my drawing and painting, my dream didn’t come true when you were alive, but you made me restart after your death.”

As she restarted her journey to achieve her dreams, the East-West Center sent out a call to alumni to submit their watercolor pieces as a part of their exhibition “Water in Reflection”. She submitted her two pieces “May Rest in Peace” and “Glad to See You Again”.

“May Rest in Peace” commemorated her father’s passing. “I tried not to remember my father’s death, but I had to keep thinking about it…I went back home and thought, I have to do something for him. Because of COVID, I couldn’t see him much and he died alone. I saw him just two days before, and we had some conversation. But I didn’t expect him to pass that soon. I couldn’t look at his picture or anything because my heart was broken. So instead, I wanted to devote something to him. That’s why I decided to paint his grandsons. I drew them looking at their phones.”

If you look to the left of the piece, you will find some Korean style funeral arrangements. “I wanted to show in this piece that this was a funeral. I didn’t want my father to go, so that is why I did not paint the flowers…I didn’t want to make it complete and decided to stop there” Soonjurng commented. She also made the suit colors of her nephews brighter because they are still young and have potential.

“Glad to See You Again” depicts Soonjurng’s visit to the Art Department for the first time after 20 years. The glass workshop caught her eye. “They are always making something there…the guy pictured is a professor…I said hello to him, and he just welcomed me with a big smile. Because of COVID during my last visit, maybe there were not so many people around. But they were working there, and I was so happy to see them.”

Soonjurng was able to see her pieces in the East-West Center Art Gallery. She shared how the Center felt like a home to her. “When I stayed in Waikiki in the past, I felt so sad. I feel more comfortable staying here on campus, than in Waikiki. It’s more comfortable...here is home.”

When asked about her future, she says “I hope [to] just draw and paint… for the rest of my life. I want to give back with my paintings or drawings to make people happy.”