Art Driven by Love

By Hellynn Jung

“I come from a complicated environment,” said Dana Kapelian. “So that was where my need to create came from.”

 

Having grown up in Haifa, Israel where war is prevalent, not to mention a mother who actively pursued women’s rights in such tumult, there is no dispute that Kapelian comes from a chaotic environment. But from this place sprung her commitment to inquire upon societal issues, express her analysis of them creatively, and furthermore discover a beauty in them.

 

While studying at the San Francisco Art Institute, Kapelian became winner of multiple scholarships. Her exhibitions have ranged in location from France to Brazil. She is seasoned globally, having held residences in London, New York, San Francisco, Paris and now Seoul.

 

Bearing a rather calm sense of self and an unmistakably serene aura belonging only to that of a true virtuoso, Kapelian is a multifaceted artist; being an artistic director, visual artist, iconographer and photographer are all inclusive in her job profile.  She uses her creative talents to explore curiosities regarding complex subjects such as women, children and the political world.

 

When asked about what brought her to Korea, she smiled and answered, “I followed my husband like a good wife.”

 

Being the mother of two and wife of Daniel Kapelian who is currently Audiovisual Attaché at the French Embassy in Seoul, she has experienced living in the country for over a year. Regardless of her initial reasons for being here, she certainly has taken advantage of the opportunities to continue her work and explore her love of culture, people and society.

 

Kapelian’s latest exhibition called “Serendipity” was held in Seoul from October to November, in which photographs taken from various areas of Paris were displayed. The core theme of this expo, much like her other work, shed light upon the beauty of things that usually go unnoticed on a day-to-day basis. Furthermore, the photos elicited an emotion of happiness or surprise, hence the title given, “Serendipity”.

 

All artists are driven to express the emotions vital to their very being, whether it is frustration or bliss. It is a methodical process of answering questions about themselves and the world they live in. As for this particular artist, the emotion of love is a driving force and inspiration in all of her work.

 

“My work is about life and love,” she said, “loving people, loving life.”

 

There is more ahead for Kapelian as several projects are in the works.

 

One of her upcoming projects is titled “The Ajumma Project”, a book and expo in development about Korean women. She takes interest in the vast versions of them living in a society where modern and traditional lifestyles clash within a metropolis that is building unimaginable momentum. But why the fascination with ‘ajummas’?

 

“I grew up holding signs and demonstrating on streets for women,” she explained. “My mother was a women’s rights activist in Israel.”

 

One can only imagine what it must have been like for women in a nation so precarious, especially during the 20^th century. For Kapelian, this kind of childhood sparked passion to develop an artistic outlet.

 

Perhaps that is one of the reasons why she can relate to Korea and its female inhabitants. It may be that she identifies with a certain kind of beauty in Korean women that is usually gone unnoticed everyday in such a complex, male-dominant society.

 

No matter what, it will surely be a window for others to experience a part of Korea she has come to love, through her eyes.