Documentary on late artist Kim Tschang-yeul now playing at MMCA Seoul

A scene from the documentary ″The Man Who Paints Water Drops,″ which follows the renowned artist Kim Tschang-yeul from 2015 to 2019. [MIRU PICTURES]

“The Man Who Paints Water Drops” (2022), a documentary on the artist Kim Tschang-yeul (1929-2021), is being screened at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Jongno District, central Seoul, until Nov. 19.

Directed by Kim’s son, Oan Kim, and French artist and documentary filmmaker Brigitte Bouillot, the 79-minute film dives into the life of the late painter, who was best known for his 50-year career of drawing water drops.

The documentary captures moments of artist Kim’s personal life between 2015 and 2019, such as him spending time with his young grandchildren or even him just swimming. Director Kim also attempts to understand the somewhat tense relationship he had with his father.

“I believe the impression that most people have about his works is that they are very simple, minimal and restrained,” the younger Kim told the Korea JoongAng Daily in an interview in 2021. “For me, I always thought that there was another level of depth behind his alluring works. The public today views old Kim Tschang-yeul as very quiet and sage-like, but when you peer deep down, he bears uncontrollable pain, darkness and wounds.”

“The Man Who Paints Water Drops” premiered at the 28th Hot Docs Festival. The documentary won the Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award, which is given to debuting filmmakers for their first or second Korean feature film at the 13th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival in 2021. It also won the Silver Horn Award at the 61st Krakow Film Festival in Poland the same year as well.

The screening at the MMCA is part of the museum’s “Intermission” program, in which it shows five more independent films. “The Man Who Paints Water Drops” will be screened on Nov. 5 and 9, both at 3:00 p.m. The complete screening schedule of “Intermission” is available here. Tickets are free.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]