'Queen of Tears' weaves rich tapestry of Korean contemporary art

By Woo Jae-yeon

SEOUL, April 26 (Yonhap) -- Artworks featured in tvN's popular series "Queen of Tears" serve more than just decorative purposes: They establish the upbeat and romantic ambiance of the series while hinting at the wealth, social status, personality and possibly the future fortunes of the main characters.

The TV show presents a rich tapestry of artistic expression, showcasing a diverse array of treasures from Korean contemporary art, including paintings by Korea's abstract art masters, artworks by prominent sculptors, and toy sculptures by an emerging young artist.

Among the prominent artworks showcased is the series of water-drop paintings by the late artist Kim Tschang-yeul who dedicated his life to capturing the luminous, pearl-like water droplets on canvas. Kim's large-size paintings adorn the walls of the chaebol family's mansion and Hong Man-dae's office. Hong is the patriarch of the family that runs a sprawling web of businesses, including a department store.

In Hong's room, two abstract paintings by Lee Kang-so, widely known for bold, gestural brushstrokes portraying animals and nature in multiple layers, decorate the walls. The artist attributes his distinctive style to serendipity rather than intentional design.

The drama also highlights another great Korean art master, Park Seo-bo, renowned for his monochrome "dansaekhwa" paintings, which he painstakingly created as a means to "empty" and heal himself. Park passed away in October last year.

"Queen of Tears" chronicles the marital crisis and subsequent rekindling of love between Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won), heiress to the third-generation conglomerate running Queens Department Store, and her smart lawyer husband Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun), who comes from a modest upbringing with parents running a small supermarket in a rural village.

As their third year of marriage teeters on the verge of collapse, Hong discovers her fatal illness, and the couple navigates an unforeseen twist of fate, leading them to rediscover their affection for each other.

Hong Hae-in's office and room exhibit artworks characterized by vivid and bright colors, reflecting her confidence and youthful beauty. Among them are rhythmically curved sculptures by Kim Tae-sue and large paintings by Jeon Eun-suk, depicting blurry images in vibrant hues.

Some viewers optimistically speculate that the vibrant atmosphere of Hong's room could foreshadow a happy ending for her, despite her battle with terminal cancer.

Since its release, the 16-part series has been achieving impressive viewership ratings, peaking at 26 percent during the most recent episode aired Sunday. Also on Netflix, it has consistently remained atop or near the top of its non-English TV show list.

The last two episodes are scheduled for release this coming weekend on tvN and online streaming platforms including Netflix.

For those eager to delve into the drama's artistic universe, PYO Gallery in Seoul will open an exhibition Monday featuring select artworks from the series. The exhibition aims to make art more accessible to the public, the gallery said Friday.

jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
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