Kwon Jinkyu (1922-1973) was a sculptor who is regarded to have brought modern sculpture in Korea to fruition, opening the way to contemporary sculpture. Leaving behind over 420 pieces of work in terracotta and dry lacquer, he stands alongside painters Park Soo-Keun and Lee Jung-sub as one of Korea’s foremost artists, yet he was never properly recognized in his lifetime. Min Hwanki’s latest film, A Life of an Artist: Kwon Jinkyu, is a documentary that reconstructs Kwon’s artistic world through archival records, photographs, and interviews, while filling the gaps in the historical record with dramatic reenactments. The reenactments, in particular, serve not simply to reproduce events but as a means of delving into the artist’s complex inner world. The film follows Kwon’s life, examining the significance of his works one by one, ultimately revealing that his sculptures are physical expressions of compassion for humans living with contradictory emotions. By the time the film ends, you may well find yourself wanting to see Kwon’s sculptures in person. (JO Ji-hoon)