VLAB is pleased to present the group show titled WONDERLAND made up of three young contemporary artists: Byun Sehee from South Korea; Heru Priyono from Indonesia; and Lee F. Salvador from the Philippines. They will each present four iconic works from their portfolio; sharing one major unique characteristic : COLOUR. I have taken the opportunity to interview all the artists so we they can tell us a little bit more about their artistic career and influences.

Born in 1990, BYUN SE-HEE is a South Korean painter who enjoys depicting characters that have inspired her during her childhood years. Her vivid colours and bold contours portray her paintings as if they are illustrations from children’s books and 90’s cartoon shows taking the viewer back in time to that age.

1. Who are your biggest artistic influences?

I started to draw paintings when I was very young.
Since my parents have always been busy since I was a child, my mother always bought sketchbooks and crayons, toys.
If I had a sketchbook and a crayon, I could have a good time alone, and it was so much fun to draw everything I imagined in a sketchbook.
Since I was always accustomed to drawing pictures naturally from my childhood, I thought it was a natural result to dream of being an artist as I grew up. I think I can live my life as an artist because my parents have been constantly interested in and supported favourite my work.

2. Tell me about your favourite medium.

I've used a lot of different materials, and one of my favourites is acrylic paint. Acrylic paint tends to dry quickly, and you can create different textures and effects with a special supplemental solution. Above all, the most attractive part of acrylic paints is that they are not toxic and can be kept for a long time without discoloration unless it is a special case. In the past, when I was working on my work, I had been worried for a long time due to the cracks and yellowing of the paints that occurred over time, but I was able to improve a lot by using acrylic paints.

3. Where do you find inspiration?

I think it's a bit more of an idea than an inspiration.
I think I get a lot of ideas in my daily life. There is a small flowerbed in front of my house, a red and small carnation planted by my mother, a tree that grows wildly, and I decorate my house and studio with toys and objects that remind me of my favorite childhood perfume.I also like classical masterpieces, so I have a lot of books related to them, all of which give me fresh and pleasant ideas, and I make my work using drawings and small notes that I have accumulated in my sketchbook. All of these would have been reflected in my work as a symbolic symbol on my canvas, metaphorically and naturally.‍

4. When is your favorite time of day to create?

I usually like the morning hours the most, the time I get the most energy, the time I get the most concentration.
There are many shops and companies around the studio, and if you look outside my studio window, they are ready to start work from dawn. There is a little noise, but I get pleasant energy by watching people who are busy in the morning. So, when I get to the studio, I make coffee, I play music, and I get ready to start working. I bring the small notes and sketched papers that I remembered and planned last night to the studio in the morning, and I reconstruct them on the canvas and start painting.

5. Describe how art is important to society.

From the time when we cannot remember, art has been in the context of society and culture, and I think that the category of art has become broader and the distinction has become blurred as we enter the period of 'modern' Many artists give a visual message in their own formative language, and I think that artists' works meet people's five senses in various ways, evoke emotions, and contribute to positive effects on society through questions and debates. I think that art acts as a midnight effect on society and makes society as a whole rich and beautiful.

6.What motivates you to create?

For me, the act of creating is quite significant, and the act of drawing has a healing character to me.
Sometimes there are days when it is hard and I want to give up, but through the process of drawing, I feel comforted and healed. Also, if there is someone who can sympathize with and be comforted through my work, I would be more than happy.

7. How do you define success as an artist?

There are many different perspectives on success.
I think that success as an artist is "An artist who is unique and irreplaceable, who can last a long time in people's memories."
I think I can define it. This is because contemporary art is pouring out various materials, subjects, and various forms, and many images are still being consumed quickly. In this accelerating chapter, it is very difficult and unusual to remain an artist who is irreplaceable and perfectly remembered by someone, and to maintain the spark of life as an artist. I think it is an honor.

8. Does art help you in other areas of your life?

As I explained earlier, the act of making a work for me has a strong healing character, helping me to refine my mind, think positively, and to have a relaxed mind.
This mindset has a lot of influence in my daily life, enabling a little brighter and more positive thinking, and always being thankful for small things. Making your mind peaceful a more important part than you think, and it affects and affects many parts of your life.

9. How do you develop your art skills?

The happiness that an artist feels while producing a work is a very short time, but I spend a lot of time and effort to feel that short happiness.
Among them, I think that it can be found in my habits that have a great influence on the process of developing my work. I always have a habit of scribbling or scribbling on paper and notes. It's part of my habit to keep a record of it. I often keep scribbling on paper while drinking coffee, talking on the phone, and taking a break. I draw my favorite characters on paper, I keep drawing things and people around me, and I record short feelings, words, and sentences that come to mind.
This becomes an important record for me later. I collect these scribbled and scribbled papers to create a story on my canvas and produce a series of works.

10. What is your dream project?

I plan to continue to study new materials, to produce new works; to experience a variety of materials and techniques; and to create new works, which is always exciting and enjoyable. In the future, we are focusing on sympathizing and communicating with people by producing and exhibiting more and more rich and beautiful works.

11. What’s your strongest memory of your childhood?

My parents are always busy, so I spend a lot of time alone. These memories, more than 20 years, which have a great influence on my work, are precious memories that I can not enjoy again as an adult. I don't have any memories that aren't precious. I still remember the temperature and smell of the day, and the memories of the summer when the sun is hot and the fresh grass is so pleasant. I remember gathering in a big tree in the village and catching cicadas and dragonflies, lying on my mother's lap on a sunny day, and taking a nap. On a warm, slightly fresh windy day, the cold drops and laughter that my mother splashes on her face as she shakes wet laundry are so warm and unforgettable memories. These memories have a lot of influence on me, and when I am tired and tired, when I draw a picture anddraw a memory, I draw a picture again and I get a driving force.

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Born in 1983, LEE SALVADOR is a painter from the Philippines. Starting his career as an artist working in the streets, then evolving and experimenting with different mediums, finally found his ideal medium and realized all his compositions on canvas. Throughout his journey, he opened a window and wanted his paintings to make reference to his childhood. Using different acrylic textures, he creates earthly tones to give his paintings a surreal atmosphere.

1. Who are your biggest artistic influences?

I look up to Basquiat and I also love the works of Yoshitomo Nara.

2. Tell me about your favourite medium.

My favourite medium is acrylic. Acrylic paint dries up faster so I can easily see the outcome of my work.

3. Where do you find inspiration?

Mostly from experiences that I've encountered and felt, whether good or bad.

4. When is your favourite time of day to create?

When I was young, I like to paint around midnight until dawn because it was quiet. As I grow old, 2pm to 8pm suits me better. I find it the most quiet and peaceful time to paint.‍

5. Describe how art is important to society.

Art gives freedom to express one's feelings, thoughts, and voice.‍

6. What motivates you to create?
‍Now it's my family - my three children and my beautiful wife.

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7. How do you define success as an artist?

Being a successful artist for me is to be able to share a part of me through painting to anyone in any part of the world.

8. Does art help you in other areas of your life?

Yes, for me it's like a therapy as it keeps me calm and focus. It serves as a tool to help me express my thoughts and emotions.

9. How do you develop your art skills?

By making mistakes and keep on trying until I reach the outcome that I want.‍

10. What is your dream project?

To be able to see my characters in a large scale 3D figure, like seeing a giant child from the 90's movie 'Honey, I blew up the kid'

11. What’s your strongest memory of your childhood?

Running and playing outside. It felt like I had all the time in the world.

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‍Born in 1980, HERU PRIYONO is an Indonesian painter whose works are mainly composed of a larger colourful figure painted with vibrant colours surrounded by tiny characters. His style evokes companionship and makes reference to the inner world in which one can always take refuge and feel accompanied. As Priyono says "Art is part of my survival" and he has demonstrated it with those colors that convey an endless party of acrylic on canvas to the viewers.

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1. Who are your biggest artistic influences?

Many of my favourite artists include Sudjodjono, Affandi, Raden Saleh, and many more.

2. Tell me about your favourite medium.

My favourite medium is acrylic on canvas.

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3. Where do you find inspiration?

I find my inspiration is uncertain where and when, sometimes in my own family environment, sometimes in quiet places.

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4. When is your favourite time of day to create?

I sometimes make paintings.  morning, afternoon or evening.

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5. Describe how art is important to society.

Art is so important for society because living side by side with art will be more colorful.

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6. What motivates you to create?

My motivation in creating is my mother and my family, as well as ideas that encourage me to visualize it immediately.

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7. How do you define success as an artist?

Successful artists in my opinion are artists who are able to bring the connoisseurs of art to enter the artist's world when enjoying his work.

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8. Does art help you in other areas of your life?

Art is very helpful, especially helping for the survival of me and my family.

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9. How do you develop your art skills?

I develop art skills in a simple way, besides I learn I follow my heart.

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10. What is your dream project?

My dream project...maybe an exhibition single around the world.

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11. What’s your strongest memory of your childhood?

My memory is strongest when I was small, the beauty of the world of play, which did not know the burdens of life, full of fantasies and wishful thinking and if I remember it was very funny, something really innocent. When we were small when there were airplanes we often screamed

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