Ginok Song: I Reach Home, I am Serene 송진옥: 나는 집으로 다다르고, 고요함이 된다

Ginok Song’s paintings take us on a journey with a young woman exploring her identity across time and space, weaving together her past and present. Drawing from the landscapes and memories of her Korean childhood and her life in Newfoundland, Song creates a vivid portrayal of self-discovery. Her art serves as a bridge between East and West, offering a space of belonging to those who often feel overlooked.

Throughout, Song’s work delves into the experience of leisure from a woman's perspective, highlighting the challenges many women face in finding time for rest and joy amid daily pressures. Each painting reflects a piece of Song’s own story, capturing the emotions tied to leisure—joy, nostalgia, melancholy, and a deep longing for rest and connection.

The exhibition is accompanied by the short film “The Gaze,” directed by Stacy Gardner.

About the artist

Ginok Song is a Korean Canadian visual artist whose passion for art began in the vibrant city of Busan, South Korea. It was at the Dada Academy in Busan where she first discovered her talent and calling for artistic expression, which she further honed at Pusan National University—an experience she cherishes. In 2000, after finding love, she relocated to St. John’s, NL, and continued to create and showcase her work across the province. Influenced by Atlantic Realism (or magic realism), Song’s art reflects reality through a unique lens shaped by her womanhood, leading her to explore women's representation through a Master of Philosophy in Humanities at Memorial University. Her work, spanning painting, mural work, and printmaking, offers thought-provoking perspectives on identity and difference. Recognized for her contributions, Song’s art is held in private and public collections across Canada, the US, the UK, and Korea. She currently resides and works in Petty Harbour, NL, and is represented by Christina Parker Gallery in St. John’s.

To learn more about Ginok Song: https://ginoksong.com/

Image credit: Detail from “Nap” (2024). Mixed media on wood panel. Collection of the artist.