Shin Sewon (Sewon Shin/ , Hanja: 申世圓) is a South Korean artist.신세원 (Shin Se-won) JoongAng Ilbo people신세원 (Shin Se-won) Chosun Ilbo people He is the founder of Trans-Art (Transcendental Art).
His art provided a basis for the reformation of the Korean religious foundation known as Hanol-gyo.
Career Grand prize in the 28th Korean National Youth Art competition미 유학 3년만에 귀국전-고교생 신세원군 「중앙일보」 Art Exhibition by High-School Student, Solo Exhibition by Teen Age Painter Sewon Shin After 3year of Studying in the US 「JoongAng Ilbo」, August 22, 1990. Georgetown Preparatory school, MD., USA Oxford University, Politics Philosophy and Economics (PPE) B.A., M.A.신세원(Shin Se-won) Naver people (Former) CEO of HI&T Inc. (Former) Chairman of Hanon GroupHonorary Consulate of the Republic of Iraq in Seoul Official website (Former) Chairman of Hanol foundationThe 50th Anniversary of Hanolgyo - Spreading the Hanol spirit based on humanitarian aims Power Korea. February 2015 issue, P. 71~77 Honorary Consul of Iraq in Korea Founder of Trans-Art
Early exhibitions Sewon Shin studied in the United States as a reward of winning 1st prize in the 28th Korean National Youth Art competition at the age of 13.The 28th National Art Competition『Youth Chosun Ilbo』, November 20, 1986. (At that time, Korea was under a strict military regime and studying abroad was prohibited).
He held two solo exhibitions소년화가 신세원 日 초대전 Teenage Artist Se won Shin Solo Exhibition in Japan 매일경제신문 July 13th, 1992 Maeil Business Newspaper in Seoul17세 소년 화단 데뷔 신세원군 경인미술관서 초대전 동아일보 1990-08-17 Dong-A Ilbo 17year-old teenager makes his art debut-Se Won Shin's Solo exhibition at Kyung In Art Gallery. August 17th, 1990 and Tokyo"In Tokyo Debut Shin Se-won To Present Fantastic Paintings" The Korea Times, July 18, 1992 while he was in high school.Boy’s imaginative oil painting hit gallery row. Shin Se-won, attending high school in U.S. shows talent at Seoul exhibit. Sunday, August 26, 1990. Korea Herald First Solo Exhibition in Seoul, Korea at the age of 17High School Student Shin Displaying 50 Paintings 『Korea Times』, August 21, 1990. Sponsor: Seoul Kyung-in Gallery, Monthly Art World Support: The Chosun Daily Newspaper Second Solo Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan at the age of 19 Sponsor: Tokyo Odakyu Gallery, The Korean-Japanese Cultural Exchange Association Cooperation: The Sankei Newspaper
At the Tokyo exhibition, he introduced a new concept of art called 'Super-individualism art현장의 작가 - 신세원 때묻지 않은 감수성의 힘 <리규화 기자,월간 미술, 1992년 8월호> An artist in the field, Se won Shin, the power of pure emotion(Journalist KyuHwaRi, Monthly Arts, Published by JoongAng Ilbo Company August 1992, Pg.102) (i.e. Trans-Ego art)'. In conveying Super-Individualism Art, he combined music, scent, optical illusion and time & space factors, and proposed the use of an orchestra, a train and train station and even a whole mountain in the performance of his art.해외전시 신세원展 Super Individual Art (월간 아뜨리에 1992년 8월호 통권 제17호 p.68~69) Overseas Exhibition - Se Won Shin Exhibit - Super Individual Art (Monthly Atelier August 1992 issue Volume 17 p.68~69)
Business After his attempt to use Seoul Namsan Tower to perform his new concept of installation art failed (due to city regulations), he decided to refrain from his art. After graduating from Georgetown Prep school, instead of pursuing art, he majored in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University.
However, Sewon's father had a stroke while he was attending his son's graduation at Oxford (he was hospitalized in Radcliffe Infirmary), and died a year after he was transferred to Korea.Shin Jeong Yil, Founder of ‘Hanol-gyo’, Deceased Yonhap News, April 6th, 1999. Journalist Hee Yong Lee
His father was the founder of Hanol religious foundation, as well as a politician (the Presidential Candidate of the Unified Korea Party who ran for the Presidency of South Korea twice), and an entrepreneur (the Chairman of the Hanon Group).
After the founder died, as a legal descendant, Sewon inevitably took on his father’s entire responsibility and restructured the foundation.
As a deputy Chairman of the Hanon Group and CEO of HI&T (a holding company), he restructured most of its subsidiary companies주한 이라크 명예영사 신세원 HI&T 대표 이기동기자, 매경이코노미 October 11th, 2002. Maeil Business Economy. Se Won Shin, CEO of HI&T : An Honorary Consul of Iraq, Journalist Ki Dong Lee and finalized his father’s major business initiatives,한얼상사 이라크 진출 화제 (매일경제 11면 1997년7월3일 김선걸 기자). Hanol Trading Company’s Launch in Iraq (Daily Maeil Economy, P.11, July 3rd, 1997 Journalist Sun Gul Kim) including an agreement to develop one of the largest crude oil mines in Iraq (a consortium with Samsung, SK, Korean National Oil Development Corporation, where HI&T was the Managing Partner & Directing Initiator). He also acquired an official agreement to develop internet-telecommunication systemsHI&T, 이라크국가정보망 구축..인터넷공사와 합의 한국경제. HI&T, Initiating National Internet network… consulting Internet Govt Corp (Korea Economic Daily December 14th, 2000, Journalist Deok Gil) for the Iraqi government. (unexecuted due to the Iraq war)김신곤 기자 벤처기업, 이라크 국가정보망 구축사업 참여 영남일보 2000년 12월18일. Korean Venture: Acquiring the right to develop Iraqi telecommunication infrastructure <Young Nam Daily. December 14> Journalist Singon Kim
His business and diplomatic contributions were recognized by both the Korean and Iraqi governments: Se Won Shin, HI&T CEO, Honorary Consul of Iraq, Initiation of Infrastructure: The consulting rights on the Iraqi internet telecommunication system: Voice back-bone structure, internet network, etc. the $200 million (USD) budget scale. December 14th, 2000. On the request of the Iraqi National Assembly and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and after the approval of Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Minister’s approval), he was appointed to the Honorary Consul in 2000."집중화제 주한 이라크 명예영사 최연소 명예영사 신세원씨 이라크 정부로부터 정보통신망 구축 승인" (강동신문 2001년 1월 1일 한성민 기자) Focus Issue - Sewon Shin, the youngest diplomat, Honorary consul of Iraq, Approval by the Iraqi government to build the Internet-telecommunication network for the Iraqi Government (Kangdong Daily, January 1st, 2001, Journalist Sungmin Han) He was very dedicated to humanitarian activities for children suffering from the war in Iraq. He supplied them with medicine and his brother, Se-Yong ShinShin Seyong, Chairman of United Help for International Children established UHIC (United Help for International Children),조선일보 <신세용 국제아동돕기연합 이사장> 2013년10월8일 주선영 기자. Seyong Shin, United Help for International Children’s Aid Alliance Chairman. The Chosun Ilbo October 8th, 2013. Journalist Sun Young Ju an organization which is very active in helping suffering children all over the world.MBC 이브닝뉴스 이슈&인터뷰 국제아동돕기연합 신세용 이사장 MBC Evening News Broadcast Issue&Interview Shin Seyong, the founder of United Help for International Children UHIC. 2013-03-04
In 2001, he was selected as one of ‘21 young power leaders of Korea of the 21st century' by the Seoul Economy - Financial Daily."20C 위기 21C 번영으로 한국號 젊은 피가 이끈다" 21세기 한국리더 영파워 21인. Seoul Economic Daily "The transformation of the 20C crisis into 21C prosperity by Korean young bloods" 21 young power leaders of Korea in the 21st century, January 1st, 2001
Spiritual art After stabilizing the Hanon group, Sewon was obliged to restructure the Hanol religious foundation. He attempted to integrate ‘art’ with ‘Spirituality’ in order to transform Hanol-gyo into a more liberal, flexible and innovative organization. His art provided a basis for the reformation of Hanol-gyo.특이점을 맞이한 정신문화 시각견성《Korea Economic Daily TV》2017-08-07. A Quantum Leap in the religious sector by the integration of art and spirituality, Optical Awakening
In accordance with the founder’s last will, he succeeded in persuading the board and the Hanol spiritual committee to officially approve ‘Spiritual Acceptance’ which makes religious conversion unnecessary and constitutionalized religious multiplicity to allow its participants from diverse backgrounds to practice other religions as well.Hanol-gyo Encyclopedia of Korean Culture
According to the guidance to Hanol-gyo, he expressed the essence of the transcendental teachings on enlightenment and awakening - the self-liberation of consciousness.Hanol-gyo official website
He officially proclaimed that the symbolic function of the regional chapels of HANOL could be replaced by the “Art of Enlightenment”, and allowed particular traditional ceremonies and the formality of rituals to be substituted by a simple contemplation on the Spiritual Art or meditation on self-awareness. He attempted to transform the existing belief system by integrating ‘Art and Spirituality’. Sewon introduced the concept of 'Spiritual Audience' instead of the traditional notion of religious followers.
After Sewon Shin reformed the Hanol-gyo foundation, he resigned from all of his duties and returned to his art in order to introduce a new form of art called Trans-art.
Trans-Art Trans-Art (also known as Trans-form Art or Transcendental Art) can be considered as the re-establishment of the 'Art of Enlightenment and Awakening’ in a fine art form (non-religious form)Introduction to Trans-Art 'Art of Transcendence' and the elaboration of "Super-Individual art (i.e. Trans-ego art)” which he introduced at the Tokyo exhibition.Super-Individual art Art of Enlightenment and Awakening official website
In Part 1: Optical Awakening, the artist expresses spiritual transcendence by using the multi-dimensional perspectives that he acquired from his own personal experience of spiritual awakening.
In Part 2: Tasting Art (Taste of Awakening), he integrates Art with Taste in order to express a glimpse of awakening by providing an extraordinary tasting experience.
In Part 3: Mobile Art, he combines Technology with Art; the audience can participate in art directly, experiencing their collective sentiment using a smart-phone devices.
According to the official website, "Trans-Art is ‘art’ that transcends the conventional form of art: the Trans-artist attempts to express the ‘Enlightenment and Awakening’, which is beyond ‘Form’, by using the ‘multi-dimensional expression method’ that he acquired from his own experience of the ‘enlightening and awakening’ process."Art of Transcendence - Artist Official website
According to the guidance to Trans-Art, Trans Art Part 1, the multi-dimensional expression of "Enlightenment and Awakening", can be perceived and experienced as an indirect experience of ‘Spiritual Transcendence’ and a ‘Glimpse of Awakening’ in the form of art – “the preview of the Ego dis-identification which entails the separation of Mind (Ego) & Consciousness (True Nature)”.
In his major work, the ‘Optical Awakening series’, the artist shows the consecutive stages of the ‘Enlightenment and Awakening’ process based on his own experience. The series comprises 'Awakening Dimensions', ‘Initiation of Awakening’, ‘Awakening True-Nature’, ‘Flash of Enlightening’, ‘Trans-Perceiving Ego’, ‘Dark-side of Ego’, ‘Trans-Quantum Physics of Mind’, ‘Trans-Perceiving Mental Synapse’, ‘Self-Liberation’, ‘Breaking Free’, ‘Quest for Immortality’, and ‘Trans-Perception’.Optical Awakening series
Hanol Spiritual and Cultural Movement of Art Hanol Spiritual and Cultural Movement of Art refers to a new type of religious endeavor through which anyone can experience the “Hanol philosophy” through art, without religious obligation or participation.
In commemoration of the 50th anniversary re-establishment, Hanol-gyo general assembly officially agreed upon reformation and endorsed the Hanol Spiritual & Cultural Movement of Art.
At the official request of Hanol-gyo, the artist provided his artworks for the Hanol Spiritual & Cultural Movement of Art which enabled the audience to experience the philosophy of “Spiritual Acceptance” of diverse spiritual culture without any conventional religious activity.