Kwon Jinkyu (1922-1973) was a sculptor who is regarded to have brought modern sculpture in Korea to fruition, opening the way to contemporary sculpture. Leaving behind over 420 pieces of work in terracotta and dry lacquer, he stands alongside painters Park Soo-Keun and Lee Jung-sub as one of Korea’s foremost artists, yet he was never properly recognized in his lifetime. Min Hwanki’s latest film, A Life of an Artist: Kwon Jinkyu, is a documentary that reconstructs Kwon’s artistic world through archival records, photographs, and interviews, while filling the gaps in the historical record with dramatic reenactments. The reenactments, in particular, serve not simply to reproduce events but as a means of delving into the artist’s complex inner world. The film follows Kwon’s life, examining the significance of his works one by one, ultimately revealing that his sculptures are physical expressions of compassion for humans living with contradictory emotions. By the time the film ends, you may well find yourself wanting to see Kwon’s sculptures in person.
Min Hwanki graduated from the Department of Metallurgical Engineering at Korea University and studied film at the Department of Film at Chung-Ang University and the Korean Academy of Film Arts. He earned an MFA in Directing from CalArts (California Institute of the Arts) and currently serves as a professor in the Department of Film at Chung-Ang University. His major directorial works include Play It Again (2004), Sogyumo Acacia Band′s Story (2008), Anxiety (2012), Jeju Note (2018), Vote Young Ones (2021), The Man with High Hopes (2021), and Kim Dae Jung on the road (2024).
From Busan International Film Festival 2026, No. 31
