Painted Fire (2002)

Ahn Sung-ki: Kim Byung-Moon

Quotes 

• Kim Byung-Moon : A new day dawns but the world still wanders in darkness.

• Kim Byung-Moon : Imagination must breathe fire into the painting. More important than the strokes is what lies between them. The mind's discipline alone must guide the brush.

• Kim Byung-Moon : They say there is nothing that you cannot paint. Portraits, still lifes, landscapes, anything. Blinded by popularity, haven't you lost your vital energy?

  Jang Seung-up : An old sage once said: 'With each day, deeper renewal.' I want to make progress every day. I won't be entangled in my own nets.

  Kim Byung-Moon : It's good that you're aware of it. In our era, painting espouses realism, whereas your landscapes portray a fantasy world, an exaggerated version of plain reality. Rudimentary echoes of true feelings. Cannot you paint life on this earth in all its pain and harshness?

  Jang Seung-up : The people have nothing to console them. If I can bring them comfort by painting fantasies, I will have been faithful to my calling. A painting is just a painting. It doesn't feature in your Party's manifesto.

• Kim Byung-Moon : That painting we saw was one of yours. Why did you say it's fake?

  Jang Seung-up : I gave it to a friend for his father's birthday, but he used it as a bribe. That makes it a fake.

• Kim Byung-Moon : A picture that's painted for profit and instant fame is nothing but vanity. Stillborn!

• Kim Byung-Moon : I happened upon this painting of yours. In it, I finally felt the heartbeat of Korea. It's a masterpiece. Not a single stroke is wasted.