The artist, Park remembers the first moment when she welded iron. The way something solid flows like liquid reminded her of human relationships. Park’s experience of becoming independent from an early age and the loss of a beloved father brought difficult times of searching and wandering at a young age. As Park lived between stability and instability, “horses” became a constant source of strength for her. Since childhood, Park was inexplicably drawn to horses, and during tough times, she became even closer to them through life on a farm. To the artist, horses are creatures that constantly run with endurance, and their long legs represent hope for the future. By welding the shape of horses in iron, Park was able to visually capture the sweat, effort, time, and patience involved.

In 2024, artist Park Yea ji, who won the Nowon Artist Open Call, worked with a community group composed of youth from the Nowon Youth Safe center. This center is an integrated support center that includes four major organizations: Nowon-gu Office, Nowon-gu Consulting and Welfare Center for Youth, Seoul Nowon Police Station, Seoul Bukbu District Office of Education. It provides support for teenagers in Nowon-gu who face various challenges. When these teenagers visit the artist’s studio, they sometimes walked with the horses and, at times, led horses larger than themselves, experiencing what it’s like to walk side by side or to guide each other. These children reflected on their school lives and friendships as they drew, and their completed drawings were expressed through welding.

The community artwork [Inside-Outside] is a piece that reflects the moments of struggle, optimism, anxiety, and hope, all shaped in iron. As you stand before [Inside and Outside], welded little by little to represent the powerful steps of a horse, we wish you discover hope for a better future.