Cornerstone Collegiate Academy of Seoul held its 7th annual art exhibition with this year’s theme, “Ready Set Go,” from October 28 to November 2. The event showcased creative artworks from students across different grades, celebrating imagination, individuality, and artistic growth. To learn more about the inspirations behind the artworks, we interviewed the student representative artist and one other student participant from this year’s exhibition. Next page, we also included several other students’ artworks, along with short descriptions of their pieces.
Seungmin Hwang, “Emotional Clock of Youth” (2025)
This work explores the complex and often conflicting emotions of adolescence, a time when feelings and moments are deeply intertwined. At its center, a clock frozen at ten symbolizes both the weight of growing up and the fleeting nature of youth, surrounded by eyes that reflect emotions like loneliness, anxiety, and fleeting joy. Through this piece, I aim to show that youth is not defined by age, but by the emotional journey and self-discovery that shape one’s identity.
Angelina Kim, “Shelter” (2025)
Since I became a high school student, many stories of stress such as relationships, grades, and the constant pressure of time have haunted me the moment I woke up. So I imagined my own place of rest, a personal sanctuary where I could relax and gaze at the sky in peace.
Janice Jeon, “About Me” (2025)
Janice Jeon
Q: How does it feel to represent the high school student artists at this year’s exhibition?
A: As a senior, I naturally felt some pressure and worried about whether I could do well, since it’s one of the biggest school events. But after doing a speech for the art exhibition as a representative of a high school student, I felt really proud of myself. It was such a memorable experience that I’ll never forget.
Q: How do you think this year’s exhibition is different from the previous ones?
A: Actually, I didn’t have a chance to attend last year’s art exhibition, so I’m not completely sure. Since I had no prior experience, I think I felt even more nervous and uncertain. It also made me curious about what last year’s exhibition might have looked like.
Q: Can you tell us about the artwork you displayed this year?
A: My artwork reflects the theme of “Beginning.” It shows how I’ve grown and developed through different experiences. To represent growth, I painted a cocoon along with stacked objects related to myself. The cocoon also symbolizes a new start — expressing the idea that once I emerge from it, another beginning awaits, just like where I am in my life right now.
Ian Kim, “We Do Not Part: Beneath the Red Tears” (2025)
Ian Kim
Q: How did it feel to have your artwork displayed in this year’s exhibition?
A: I felt really proud of myself. Seeing my painting on the wall made me feel that all my hard work was truly rewarded. It was such a rare and valuable experience that encouraged me to express my creativity more freely and overcome my hesitation.
Q: Can you tell us about your artwork and what inspired it?
A: My artwork, “We Do Not Part: Beneath the Red Tears,” draws inspiration from Han Kang’s novel “We Do Not Part” (작별하지 않는다), the work that earned her the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Q: What do you enjoy most about making art?
A: The part that I enjoy the most about making art would be that there’s no limitation. I can create anything that pops into my mind, no matter how difficult and complicated it is.
