‘Queen of Tears’ weaves a rich tapestry of Korean contemporary art

A scene from tvN’s “Queen of Tears” shows a painting of Jeon Eun-suk on the wall. Yonhap

Artworks from tvN’s popular series “Queen of Tears” serve more than just decorative purposes: they establish the cheerful and romantic atmosphere of the series while hinting at the wealth, social status, personality and possibly future fate of the main characters.

The TV show presents a rich range of artistic expression and showcases a wide range of treasures from Korean contemporary art, including paintings by Korean masters of abstract art, works of art by leading sculptors and toy sculptures by an emerging young artist.

Among the prominent artworks on display is the series of water drop paintings by the late artist Kim Tschang-yeul, who devoted his life to capturing the luminous, pearl-like water droplets on canvas. Kim’s large paintings adorn the walls of the Chaebol family mansion and Hong Man-dae’s office. Hong is the patriarch of the family who runs an extensive network of businesses, including a department store.

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

Kim Tschang-yeul’s 1993 water drop painting is featured in tvN’s popular series ‘Queen of Tears’. Courtesy of PYO Gallery

The drama also highlights another great Korean art master, Park Seo-bo, known for his monochrome “dansaekhwa” paintings, which he painstakingly created as a means of “emptying” and healing himself. Park died last October.

“Queen of Tears” tells the story of 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 shrewd lawyer husband Baek Hyun Woo (Kim Soo). -hyun), who comes from a modest upbringing with parents who run a small supermarket in a rural village.

As their third year of marriage teeters on the brink, Hong discovers her terminal illness, and the couple finds themselves in an unforeseen twist of fate that leads them to rediscover their affection for each other.

Hong Hae-in’s office and room display artwork characterized by vibrant and bright colors, reflecting her confidence and youthful beauty. These include rhythmically curved sculptures by Kim Tae-sue and large paintings by Jeon Eun-suk, which depict blurry images in vibrant hues.

A scene from tvN’s “Queen of Tears” shows a painting by Noh Jung-ran on the wall. Yonhap

Some viewers optimistically speculate that the lively atmosphere in Hong’s room could foreshadow a happy ending for her despite her battle with terminal cancer.

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

For those eager to delve into the artistic universe of the drama, PYO Gallery in Seoul will open an exhibition of selected artworks from the series on Monday. The exhibition aims to make art more accessible to the public, the gallery said on Friday. (Yonhap)