Seunghyun Kim
My grandmother, grandfather, aunt, cousins, brother, mother, father, and myself. This painting is a part of my master's degree in illustration. It depicts the process of my grandfather's funeral. April 2024.
The left panel shows my grandmother trying to hear my grandfather's response as he spoke very quietly towards the end of his life. My aunt is holding his hand and uncle on the right side is warming the cover that will be put on my grandfather's face. The other uncle in the middle is writing his parting words on the coffin.
The middle panel is when the family came together to burn my grandfather's portrait a week after the funeral. It was during winter and the wind was strong. That is why me and my brother had to cover the fire with empty cardboards.
The right panel is a year after the funeral. My grandmother is holding the picture frame without my grandfather's portrait. Our family has come to terms and lives on. But another family is starting their funeral.
This painting was made for a specific gallery. It is meant to appear as though the gallery's space continues forward into the painting.
Hongik University
