Senior artists in South Korea publish art book after four year project

The Jumunmaru Center at the Gangneung General Social Welfare Center published an art book titled 'It Felt Good to Draw' featuring the work of 16 elderly residents in Jumunjin.

The project, called the Painting Studio Senior Artist Project, received funding from a ministry program that supports regions with limited access to social welfare services. The 16 participants took part in the program for four years starting in 2023.

While the seniors initially hesitated to use brushes and pencils, they eventually became a supportive community of neighbors. The participants moved from being recipients of care to becoming village artists who took the lead in planning and producing the book. They chose the artworks, selected merchandise items, and helped with design work. The collected paintings depict local scenery in Jumunjin, such as the lighthouse and flowers in old courtyards, as well as personal memories.

One participant said that sharing time with friends to paint provided great vitality to their lives. Kim Mi-hyun, the director of the Gangneung General Social Welfare Center, said she hopes the solidarity formed during the project spreads to the wider community.