“WHAT KEEPS my heart awake is colorful silence,” said Claude Monet, one of the famous painters of all time. As romantic as this quote sounds, many of us unfortunately live in a world exempt from both colorfulness and silence. Thankfully there is still a group of people on campus who focus on trying to find their version of “colorful silence”: Wha-woo-hoe. To learn more about this original club, The Yonsei Annals conducted interviews with Wha-woo-hoe’s 54th president Han Eun-bin (Sr., Russian Lit & Language) and its members. 

Annals: Could you briefly introduce your club, Wha-woo-hoe?

Han: Wha-woo-hoe is the only fine art club in Yonsei where students from a variety of majors come together through a shared passion. Our club was created in 1968 at Pinson Hall. Since then, we have produced a stream of impressive members. The name of our club, Wha-woo-hoe means “arts and friends.”                

Annals: Could you give us a detailed explanation of the club’s activities?

Han: Our first activity is the spring exhibition, which many of our members look forward to. In order to prepare paintings for display, we hold at least two sessions where we peer review each other’s work and make changes based on those evaluations. We used to have our exhibitions in a room in front of the Y-Valley, but as the school is not allowing us to rent the room, we are planning to do the exhibitions online. Another upcoming event is the flea market. We are planning to paint on merchandise like bags, pencil cases to add the creative spice that reflects our passion for art and sell it to people at a cheap price.

Annals: Do students have to be good at painting to join the club?

Han: We welcome all students who are interested in arts regardless of their drawing skills. Skill levels do differ among members; I would have to say that I am not exceptionally talented at drawing. I was able to learn a lot after joining the club by participating in “practical skill classes.” There are sessions provided to our members who wish to learn about the technical aspect of drawing, from creating certain textures with appropriate brushes to mixing oil paints in the correct ratio. We designate two skilled members who enjoy teaching to provide these classes, and they have been devoted enough to create their own curriculum. 

Annals: What are the things that you consider before you start on a piece?

Han: For me, I focus on choosing “what to draw” and then try to envision the overall image of the drawing. During that process, I choose the tone and atmosphere of my painting.

Annals: Do you have a favorite painting of yours?

Han: It would have to be the first painting I created after joining the club. I drew the moon in the sky shining on the ocean below it. I like this painting because it gave me a new perspective on drawing. In the beginning, I was intimidated by the large-sized canvas because I felt pressure to fill it completely with my own drawing. Yet, in the process of finalizing this piece, I began to naturally add in more colors and details. I remember feeling quite proud after completing this drawing. 

Annals: Why did you decide to join Wha-woo-hoe?

Han: I was interested in drawing since elementary school, but I gained a more fundamental interest in the arts when I visited the Hermitage Museum in Russia and saw the works of famous artists like Gauguin and Matisse. That’s when I realized the beauty of both actualizing and enjoying artworks. Attending college as Russian Lit & Language major, I obviously had to set these interests aside, but when a friend who was a member of Wha-woo-hoe approached me and asked if I would like to join this club, I could not resist. 

Annals: Could you share your most meaningful memory from your time in this club?

Han: In  December 2019, our club members drew on a wall of the Yonsei Education Science Hall. Since it was winter, it was hard to paint outdoors for such a long time, but the final outcome still has to be one of my proudest achievements.

Annals: What does “painting/drawing” mean to Wha-woo-hoe members?

Han: To some members, it is a dream that was not realized, and to others, it is revisiting past hobbies. It is not easy for non-arts major students to continue drawing because even basic art materials like paints and canvases are costly. So, it is a huge opportunity for them to join Wha-woo-hoe since materials and a space to draw are provided liberally. Also, our members think that the time that we spend on painting a piece is an enjoyable and memorable moment.

Annals: With the unexpectedly prolonged pandemic, how is the club carrying out its activities? 

Han: I was a member of the club even before COVID-19 and became an executive member and president during the pandemic, so I was able to experience both offline and online club activities. Before COVID-19, we held numerous exhibitions, Akaraka face painting booths, and regular face-to-face meetings. Unfortunately, because the majority of these activities could not be managed efficiently online, our club activities were on hold last year. During the first semester when the school was modifying the guidelines constantly, we would plan one thing and then realize a few days later that it would be impossible under the new restrictions. At the end of the day, the school closed all on-campus rooms, and we had no choice but to cease our collaborative creative projects. 

Annals: Then, for this year, what is Wha-woo-hoe’s plan?

Han: We realize that our response last year was inadequate. Hence, for 2021, we are planning to operate both online and offline activities. Fundamentally, we made the decision to put less weight on our club’s original identity as a traditional “fine arts” club and instead focus more on activities where we could enjoy art in diverse ways. Offline, we plan to convene in small groups and visit exhibitions, DIY workshops, and art museums. Online, we are trying to reconvene through the screen, and we have just held our club orientation through a website called Gather Town. The event went quite smoothly. We dispersed breakout rooms for small group activities and shared our pieces through the screen. 

Annals: What are Wha-woo-hoe's goals?

Han: For now, since it is officially our first time conducting club activity during a pandemic, I hope that our planned activities all proceed efficiently. Our long-term goal is to create a manual after this semester of online activities for future members as I have no doubt that Wha-woo-hoe member’s passion and interest for arts will go on. 

Annals: Is there anything you would like to say to our readers and those who might be thinking about joining Wha-woo-hoe?

Han: Wha-woo-hoe is a club where you can grow your interest in art and meet people who have similar interests. You don’t have to be a skilled painter. So, if you are looking for fun, art-related activities and opportunities to meet new friends, Wha-woo-hoe is where you need to join!