Sketches at Under Stand Avenue, Seoul

 open-air market viewed from the outdoor stage, pen and watercolor, (36 x 51cm)

a sketch at the main entrance of Under Stand Avenue, pen and pastel, (36 x 51cm)

a scene of crowded open-air market, pen and watercolor, 

(29.6 x 42cm)

a young couple sells the fresh blueberries, pen and watercolor, 

(29.6 x 42cm)

a scene of the outdoor stage, pencil, (29.6 x 42cm)

nearby buildings beyond Walkshop Loft Garden, pen and pastel, 

(29.6 x 42cm)

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It was too hot last Saturday, Seoul usk members met at Under Stand Avenue (언더스탠드 애비뉴) located between Seoul Forest (서울숲) and Seoul Forest Station. Under Stand Avenue, made of 116 recycled colorful containers complex, is attracting locals and tourists in eastern Seoul. The complex serves as a creative public cultural space for teenagers, artists, local vendors and small brands. There is also an outdoor stage for cultural performances, local community organize special events and various workshops every month. The very day we visited Under Stand Avenue, it was market day once a month on 4th Saturday for the food and beverage produced by urban farmers. The street mall was full of open-air shops with temporary colorful tents and crowded people. Unfortunately many stores and unique restaurants on the 2nd floor rooftop were under renewal construction, we couldn't help sketching outdoors on the ground level in search of the shadow.

I sketched the lively scenes of the crowded market with colorful tents and streetscape including nearby buildings harmonizing with moving cranes. It was a very exciting sketch time despite the summer heat.

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컨테이너 명소인 언더스탠드 애비뉴~~ 

커먼 그라운드에서의 "광장"분위기와는 달리

"스트리트 몰"과 숲이 어우러진 새로운 느낌입니다.

예기치 않았던 "장날"과 "대형 리모델링 공사"로

2층에서 보는 좋은 각도의 입체적 장면을 못 그렸지만

땅 레벨에서 보는 번잡한 시장 모습과 하늘을 덮는 천막,

사이사이 보이는 율동같은 모습과 시시각각 변하는 그림자...

스케치 현장은 "가변성이 있고 예측불가"라는 것도 매력입니다.

Sketches of Youngsanjae Ritual at Bongwonsa Temple, Seoul

the colorful scene of Youngsanjae Ritual ceremony, 

pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

400 years old zelkova tree in front of the 3000 Buddhas Hall (삼천불전) near the entrance to the temple, pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

the beginning of the ceremony, pen and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

a monk is playing the drum in ritual ceremony, pen and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

a scene in the process of Meal Offering ceremony, pen and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

performance of the traditional Buddhist music, pencil and watercolor, (21 x 29.6cm)

colorful Buddhist dance with monks and Youngsanjae preserver group, pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

the area for dead to rest in peace on the 2nd floor of the 3000 Buddhas Hall, pen and watercolor, (29.6 x 42cm)

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On last Sunday(June 3rd) and Wednesday(June 6th), I visited Bongwonsa Temple (봉원사) for sketching the cultural performance and the 30th Youngsanjae Ritual (영산재). 

The ceremony has been held on the Memorial Day of Korea, June 6th. Lots of people gathered to see the ritual ceremony. Big hanging painting was hung on left side of the big temple. Monks from foreign countries and inland visited too. Korean traditional music with big drums, pipes, gongs and Buddhist dances were played by monks and members of Youngsanjae preserver group. The ritual ran all day from 10 am to 7pm. Because the personnel for the event didn't allow ordinary people to enter the ritual area it was not easy to capture scenes in detail. The temple had been built on 889AD.  And the ritual has been kept performing for 30 years for the peace of the dead and the live. I prayed for the peace of world all the while sketching. 

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서대문 안산 기슭의 태고종 천년사찰 "봉원사"
현충일에 열리는 산이와 죽은 영령을 위한 30회 "영산재"
수많은 불자들과 승려, 하늘을 덮은 천막과 찬란한 휘장들,
대형 괘불 제단의 장엄한 예불의식, 전통 춤과 불교음악...
우리 나라와 세계 평화를 기원하는 뜻깊은 스케치의 날이었습니다.