Art protects art
8 out of 10
artists are shut out by banks
354
loans extended to fellow artists
95%
repayment rate — trust comes full circle
~KRW 140M
interest saved vs. predatory rates
Until the next exhibition, the next performance. For artists, income gaps are an unavoidable reality. For fellow artists forced into predatory loans just to afford paint, canvas, and studio rent, proceeds from this artwork become the Seed Fund — extending a fair hand at fair rates.
Voices of fellow artists
“The memory of going hungry for three days, alone, so my children wouldn't know.”
— 50s, theater artist
“I've been putting off urgent dental treatment because I can't afford it. I should be seeing a doctor regularly, but enduring instead of going has become a habit.”
— 50s, actor
“I kept delaying ear treatment because I had no money, and the symptoms in both ears worsened.”
— 30s, musician
“I couldn't pay my hospitalized mother's bills, so we had to delay her discharge, and she had to give up tests and treatment she needed.”
— 50s, actor/broadcaster
“Because of money troubles I had nowhere to go — drifting between gosiwon rooms and rehearsal studios, and for a while sleeping rough.”
— 30s, musician
“Because of unpaid rent, my collective was forced to vacate our shared workspace and home. Neither bank loans nor artist loans could help.”
— 50s, actor
“Without money, life collapses — and creating art? Out of the question.”
— 50s, artist
“It's painful that solving this month's money problems has to come before the work itself. As an artist, I can only earn well when the work succeeds — yet I have to chase odd jobs every month instead. It feels like being trapped in a vicious cycle.”
— 40s, musician
“Debt collection calls disrupted my rehearsals and performances, and the psychological burden made every day painful and the next day frightening.”
— 40s, theater artist
“Many times the loan payments looming each month forced me to step away from performing and focus on part-time work.”
— 50s, actor
“Sleeping less than four hours a night, juggling part-time jobs and theater — but the more I performed, the more debt piled up. Eventually I decided to quit performing.”
— 30s, actor
“When things were hardest, I couldn't even attend close friends' weddings or funerals — and as a result, relationships were severed.”
— 50s, actor/broadcaster
“When I said I was a stage actor, the loan officer called me "unemployed."”
— 50s, actor
“The shame and severed friendships that came with borrowing from people I knew, the pressure of failing to pay it back, the helplessness.”
— 50s, cartoonist/visual artist
“Even with programs meant for low-income citizens, I feel shame when I can't produce enough documentation simply because I'm an artist.”
— 30s, film/broadcasting professional
94 artworks sold, each becoming a seed of solidarity
One artwork becomes the oxygen that keeps a fellow artist creating.
Sales proceeds go to the artist mutual-aid fund.
Family
Cheon Jisu
Authenticity
One-of-a-kind original
About the Artist
Cheon Jisu is an artist working across painting, illustration, and book criticism. From 〈Giggle〉 at Moro Gallery in Seoul (2001) to 〈Library Fantasy〉 at The Space Gallery in Osan (2025), she has held nine solo and curated invitational exhibitions, with international engagements including 〈A Midsummer Night's Dream〉 at the Korean Embassy in Italy in Rome (2005) and a two-person exhibition at Kuga Museum of Art in Fukuoka, Japan (2018). She received the Grand Prize (Primo Premio) at the 4th Giovanni Pericone National Art Competition in Italy (2003), and in 2008 participated in the rock mural restoration at the UNESCO-designated Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. In 2021, she published the illustrated book-review collection Reading Atelier (Cheonnyeon-ui Sangsang). Her works are held in the collections of the Korean Embassy in Italy, the Rotary Club Fiuggi, and the Asia Publishing Culture Information Center.
About this work
〈Family〉 is a Painting work by Cheon Jisu. Created in 2025 on Oil on canvas, measuring 27x27cm. Available as an original Korean contemporary artwork at SAF Online.
Key Career Highlights
Solo Exhibitions 1st 2001.5 'Giggle' Curated Invitational (Moro Gallery, Seoul) 2nd 2001.11 'Time & Space' (Artist Guild Space Gallery, Paris, France) 3rd 2005.5 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Curated Invitational (Korean Embassy in Italy, Rome, Italy) 4th 2010.5 'Children's Play' Curated Invitational (Art Space H, Seoul) 5th 2021.6 'Reading Atelier Publication Memorial Curated Invitational' (Paju Wisdom Forest) 6th 2024.9 'Key to Open Myself' Curated Invitational (Chuncheon Gallery The Way) 7th 2025.4 'Reading Atelier' Curated Invitational (Suwon Gallery Yeongtong) 8th 2025.5 'Shape of Life' Curated Invitational (Paju Gallery Jijihyang) 9th 2025.12 'Library Fantasy' Curated Invitational (Osan The Space Gallery) 2-Person Exhibition 2018.6 'Method of Creating Energy for Life' (Kuga Museum of Art Curated Invitational, Fukuoka, Japan) Awards 1997 University Art Exhibition - Special Selection (Honam University) 2003 4th Giovanni Pericone National Art Competition - Grand Prize (Primo Premio) Mural Restoration 2008 Rock Mural Restoration (UNESCO World Heritage Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa) Collections Korean Embassy in Italy Korean Catholic Church in Rome, Italy Rotary Club Fiuggi, Italy Asia Publishing Culture Information Center Korean Culture Contents Research Institute Group Exhibitions 1997-1999, 2006 'Color' Exhibition (Gwanhun Gallery, Seoul) 1998 Print Academy Exhibition (MMCA Gwacheon) 1999 Dongki Exhibition (Gwanhun Gallery, Seoul) Version Channels (Gallery Boda, Seoul) 2003 'Glocallizzazione' (Inter Culturale Permanente Roma Gallery, Rome, Italy) 2010 Dongduk 100th Anniversary / Dongduk Women's University 60th Anniversary Exhibition (Dongduk Art Gallery) 2018 Dongduk Women's University Painting Department 50th Anniversary Mokhwa Exhibition (Dongduk Art Gallery, Dongduk Women's University Museum) 2020 30th Mokhwa Exhibition (Online) 2021 6th His Art Fair (Insa Art Plaza) 2021 Something Exhibition (Raemian Gallery) 2022 31st Mokhwa Exhibition (Online) 2022 Book Artist Tent (Paju Wisdom Forest) 2024 Today's Suwon Exhibition (Suwon Municipal Manseok Exhibition Hall) 2025 32nd Mokhwa Exhibition (Dongduk Gallery) 2025 LA Art Show (LA Convention Center) / BAMA Busan International Art Fair (BEXCO) / Gyeongnam Art Fair (Changwon Convention Center) Publication 2021.6 'Reading Atelier' Published (Cheonnyeon-ui Sangsang) Column Serializations 2016.8-2020.12 Sports Kyunghyang Painting Book Review 'Cheon Jisu's Reading Atelier' Column 2023.2-2024.5 Sports Kyunghyang 'Picture Books Read by Cheon Jisu' Reviews 2023.8-Present Chaekkiraut, Culture News, MHN Sports 'Picture Books Read by Cheon Jisu' Reviews
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Recently Sold
94 artworks sold recently
Two beginnings made by one piece
- For you —
- One-of-a-kind in the world
- For the artist —
- the next month of their practice
- For a fellow artist —
- a new ₩3,000,000 path of low-interest support
354 artists have walked this path of recovery; 95% returned to open it for the next.