2013 year-end sketches around Seoul YMCA Building

Seoul YMCA Building and Jongno Tower Building, pen and watercolor,

a scene viewed from the backyard in the building, pen,

the buildings across the road, pen and watercolor,

a restaurant on the 1st floor in Seoul YMCA Building, pen and watercolor,

at Woori Bank(우리은행) YMCA branch on the 1st floor, pen and watercolor,

at Daiso(다이소)-Jongno2-ga across the road, pen and watercolor,

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( 21 x 29.6cm sketchbook )

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I often passed by Seoul YMCA Building(서울 와이 엠 씨 에이) on business affairs. From time to time, I sketched some sceneries around the historic building alongside of Jongno Tower Building(종로 타워 빌딩) which is a famous landmark near Jongno Crossing(종로 네거리). Some pieces posted here are sketched on this December whenever I stopped off at the building once in a while. 

A Happy New Year to all urban sketchers with the Watch-Night bell!

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송년을 맞을 때마다 제야의 종소리와 종로 네거리를 떠올리게 됩니다.             2014년은 어반 스케쳐들이 새롭게 비상하는 말(飛馬)의 새해가 되기를 기원합니다. 

sketches of people at a debate forum(토론회)

at the main auditorium on the 2nd floor, pen and watercolor,

the auditorium was filled to capacity, pen and watercolor,

the panel sitting on the platform, pen and watercolor,

another sketch of the panel, pencil,

at the lounge in front of main auditorium, pen and watercolor,

people are going up and down the stairs, pen and watercolor,

at the busy lounge, pen and watercolor,

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( 21 x 29.6cm sketchbook )

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A few days ago, Korea Institute of Registered architects(KIRA:대한건축사협회) held a debate forum in Construction Guarantee Building(건설 공제조합 빌딩), located at Nonheyon-dong(논현동),Gangnam-gu(강남구), Seoul. The major focus of debate is "the improvement of the current system in architecture(건축 제도개선)"  which is an our architects' main interest recently. About 2000 architects gathered inside the building despite the cold weather outside. The main auditorium was filled with excitement. I sketched various scenes of people from place to place during the debate. 

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세미나, 결혼식 또는 강연회 등 옥내 행사 스케치는  길거리나 광장과는 달리 닫힌 공간 속의 긴장감이 또다른 매력을 불러 옵니다. 야외에서 느낄 수 없는 조명의 분위기~~ 빛과 그림자 속에서 사람들의 움직임들이 실내 스케치의 참 맛을 느끼게 하지요.

an old fashioned village in downtown Seoul

a scene of the village along the street

Seosomun Apartment(서소문 아파트), one of the oldest ones in Seoul

another sketch of Seosomun Apartment

a scene viewed from the railroad crossing(서소문 건널목)

another scene viewed from the railroad crossing

a scene looking at Seosomun Overpass(서소문 고가)

the National Policy Agency(경찰청), a landmark at Migeun-dong

buildings around Migeun-dong including Gyeongui Line(경의선)

a panoramic view across the road

an old restaurant

a snack stall and a shoe repair shop 

a narrow alley passing through Seosomun Apartment

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( pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm )

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Recently, I visited Migeun-dong(미근동) village several times, which is an old village and located in Seodaemun-gu(서대문구) near the center of Seoul. There are lots of old fashioned buildings built near by the side of railway on the Gyeongui Line over which Seosomun Overpass is crossing. The habitability of housing, including old Seosomun Apartment, is not so satisfied owing to the some noise and inconvenient environment. Nevertheless, the unique and lively sceneries of the village, which is scheduled for regeneration within the near future, are so colorful and somehow attractive for sketching. I drew some disordered but interesting sceneries around the old fashioned hidden village.

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서소문과 서대문,충정로를 잇는 철길 주변의 오래된 동네 ,

해방 이전과 경제개발 시대의 잔상이 곳곳에 남아있습니다.

도심 빌딩의 틈사이로 비치는 그늘진 뒤안길 속을 헤치며

생생한 모습을 그리다 보면 왠지 이국적 느낌에 젖어듭니다.

sketches at Seoul Folk Flea Market, Sinseol-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul

Last Saturday, we Seoul usk members met at Seoul Folk Flea Market(서울 풍물시장) and enjoyed all the fun of the fair in the marketplace. Though it was a little cold and snowy, the temperature inside the building was so warm by many heaters and some hot tasty treats. There were lots of objects for sketching, including various antiques, daily necessities and all sorts of junk with interesting atmosphere. I sketched some new sceneries which I didn't draw before, roaming in and outside the market.

a front view of the market building, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

a rear view of the market building, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

indoors atmosphere around the ramp, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

restaurants and stores on the 2nd floor, ballpoint pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

a herbal shop on the 2nd floor, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

talking together about sketches, pencil and watercolor, 14.8 x 21cm

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풍물시장은 우리 생활의 축소판 같습니다. 세월을 거쳐 온 衣食住의 생활과 풍습에서 나오는 비품들을 언제나 쉽게 만날 수 있지요. 스케치를 위한 작은 만물상이라고 하겠습니다.

some sketches around Dongdaemun Church, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Recently, I stopped off at Dongdaemun Church(동대문 교회), that is controversial about demolition for the restoration of ancient Seoul's castle walls between the Korean Methodist Church(기독교 대한감리회) and Seoul Metropoitan Government. The church over 100 years is known as a familiar landmark around Dongdaemun Gate(동대문) until recently. I sketched this unfortunate building from place to place in order to keep a pictorial record.

the panorama of Dongdaemun Church viewed from Dongdaemun Gate, 

                    

view the church from a different angle,

view the church from a different angle,

a side view of the church,

another sketch of a side view,

looking up at the bell tower,

Dongdaemun Gate(Heunginjimun:흥인지문) viewed from Dongdaemun Church,

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( pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm sketchbook)

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동대문 곁의 낯익은 근대사의 현장이 한양도성 성곽복원 차원에서 사라져 갈 운명에 직면하고 있는 장면을 스케치 하면서~~ 보존과 정비의 갈등 속에...지나간 역사의 현장 속에서 또 하나의 석별의 정을 느꼈습니다.

some sketches in and outside the the Anglican Church of Korea, Seoul

These days, I used to visit and sketch some historic and memorable buildings near downtown. Many cultural assets, including old palaces, temples and churches are placed around us in Seoul. Especially, the Anglican Church of Korea(대한성공회 서울교구) is one of the most desirable spots to sketch artistically for me. I've sketched this beautiful church for years, but I'm never tired of it. 

the central part of the Anglican Church of Korea, pen and watercolor,

                    

viewed from the main gate, pen and watercolor,

another sketch of the church, pen and watercolor,

presbytery and Society of the Holy Cross(사제관 및 성가수도회), pen and watercolor,

inside the Anglican Church of Korea, pen and watercolor,

another sketch inside the church, pen and watercolor,

the choir practice(성가대 연습), pen and watercolor,

an attractive building around the Anglican Church of Korea, pen and watercolor,

another sketch of nearby buildings, pen and watercolor,

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( 21 x29.6cm)

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성공회는 도심속의 몇 안되는 보물같은 스케치 마당입니다. 

빛과 질감, 비례와 균형, 스케일과 주변 하모니~~ 

양식과 전통이 어우러지며 서울의 역사가 배어 있는 

그려도 그려도 새롭게 다가오는 스케치 수련장입니다. 

a field trip to Sejong City(세종시)

Last week, I participated in a field trip program of Seoul Institute of Registered Architects(SIRA: 서울특별시 건축사회). After attending a special lecture about Sejong City, We made an on-the-spot survey of Sejong City, Multifunctional Administrative City (MAC:행정중심복합도시). The City is located on the east-north side of Chungcheongnam-do and has Chungcheongbuk-do Cheongwon-gun(청원군) to the East, Gongju-si(공주시) to the West, Daejeon(대전시) to the South, and Cheonan-si(천안시) to the North. The construction works according to the Sejong City Project have been under way for several years. Recently, the Ministry of Security and Public Administration(안전행정부) announced a total of 35 government agencies, including nine ministries from Seoul, will be relocated by 2014 when Sejong City's construction meets the initially scheduled deadline. And The plan has been going smoothly up to the present. Having a busy schedule with in a very short space of time, I have been busy sketching actively wherever I looked in.

construction site of Government office building viewed from the Milmaru Observatory, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

Government Complex Sejong(정부 세종청사) under construction, brush pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

The National Library of Sejong(세종 국립도서관), brush pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

another view of the National Library of Sejong, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

Waterside Stage(수상 무대섬) at Sejong Lake Park(세종 호수공원), pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

looking at the stage from different view, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

a distant view of waterfront plaza at Sejong Lake Park, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

Milmaru Observatory(밀마루 전망대),the highest building in Sejong City, pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

at the information center(홍보관) of MAC, brush pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

the party gathered around the small-scale model of Sejong City, brush pen and pastel, 21 x 29.6cm

an interesting building at the surrounding village, brush pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

after lunch, waiting for the bus to leave, brush pen and watercolor, 21 x 29.6cm

inside the bus, pen and watercolor, 14.8 x 21cm

Cheonan Service Station(천안 휴게소), pen and watercolor, 14.8 x 21cm

main auditorium of Korea Institute of Registered Architects(KIRA: 대한 건축사협회), pen and watercolor, 14.8 x 21cm

a special lecture about Sejong City by Professor Kim, pen and watercolor, 14.8 x 21cm

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서울에서 두 시간...고속도로와 평야를 지나 금강이 흐르는 벌판~~

아직은 낯설고 황량하지만, 첫 모습의 미래도시 현장을 답사하면서 

오늘의 비효율이 내일의 성장도시로 바뀌어 가기를 기대합니다.