Searching for the Light of the North and the South
The artistic journey of Byun Shi-ji is not a mere progression of skill, but a spiritual quest for an authentic identity. It began with the rigorous, classical beauty of his Tokyo years, where he mastered the interplay of light and shadow, becoming a celebrated figure in the Japanese art world.
Upon returning to Seoul, his palette began to change, reflecting the grit and resilience of the post-war era. However, it was his eventual return to Jeju Island that marked his most profound transformation. Here, he abandoned the diverse colors of his past for a singular, dominant hue—the ochre of the Jeju earth and the golden light of the setting sun.
His "Artistic Journey" is characterized by this reduction—a stripping away of the unnecessary until only the essence remained: the wind, the sea, the lone pony, and the enduring human spirit. This evolution is what we now celebrate as the pinnacle of his creative genius.