MANE, beloved for his playful works, has enriched daily life with simple touches and soft colors. In his current solo exhibition "The Room I Still Dream Of," he employs layering and shadows in oil painting to depict childhood memories and memorable scenes. In this interview, we discuss his transformation and background.

Painting the Emotions That Sleep in the Room of Memory

Artist in the Studio

- What inspired or gave you the idea for the exhibition ”The Room I Still Dream Of”?

MANE: Between my childhood self and who I am today, there exists a room of memories. It is not a physical space, but a landscape of emotions that remain deep within me. Private imaginations, feelings that are difficult to put into words, and scenes that have stayed in my heart for a long time all reside in that room.

- By turning childhood memories and emotions into artworks, what did you discover, or how have you changed personally?

MANE: Working with childhood memories has changed the pace of my life. By painting scenes of Mariffe holding a toy or gazing out the window, I have learned to wait for small steps. I also realized that clarity does not always mean sharpness, and that love can remain even without possession.

Characters Observed as Companions

Artist in the Studio

- You are widely known as an illustrator. What led you to expand your expression into contemporary art?

MANE: Although I worked as an illustrator for many years, I wanted to find a way for emotions to linger longer. Painting allows me to build layers slowly, without haste. I expanded my work because I wished for my characters to live beyond the boundaries of merchandise. I hope the audience encounters them not as objects, but as companions.

- What are the similarities and differences between the characters in this exhibition and the Ponybrown characters?

MANE: The similarity lies in their gaze. Both the Ponybrown characters and the figures in this exhibition look at the world with gentle eyes. The difference is in weight and method. Ponybrown spoke through messages of everyday life, while the figures in this exhibition speak through paint, silence, and empty spaces. They talk less about cuteness, and more about places where emotions reside.

Layers of Memory Accumulated on Smooth Surfaces

Artist's Studio

- What materials and techniques did you use to visualize memories in this exhibition?

MANE: I mainly use oil on canvas, and I also cut wood pieces and paint them with oils. On canvas, I repeatedly apply gesso and sanding to create a smooth surface like paper, then build dense scenes with multiple layers of oil paint. Wood allows me to emphasize aspects that canvas cannot capture. By making the forms round, thick, or protruding, they draw the viewer’s attention to the story. I chose this approach so that the gaze moves slowly, and memories appear not as facts but as rooms one can enter.

Quiet Inspiration Resonating from Film and Daily Life

Artist in the Studio

- Could you tell us about any events, people, or sources of inspiration outside of art that influenced your creative process?

MANE: I was deeply inspired by Abbas Kiarostami’s film Where Is the Friend’s Home?. I loved the warmth and innocence in its gentle gaze. Since then, I began to portray the image of a child not as characters or stories for children, but as a reflection of pure times through the eyes of my adult self. My Abyssinian cat was also an important inspiration, reminding me of Mariffe’s eyes and mouth.

I also draw inspiration from worn books, old toys, the stillness of dawn, and even simple sounds like water boiling in a kettle. Such ordinary things make my work more honest.

- What kind of expressions or projects would you like to explore in the future?

MANE: I would like to expand and establish childhood memories and fantasies as a universe of their own. I hope to work on large-scale sculptures and murals, and explore various materials to create an uneven but cohesive world that comes together when seen from afar.

The expression that has expanded from illustration to contemporary art quietly guides viewers into the "room of memory." There, the past emotions and landscapes that everyone carries overlap, and new stories are born together with MANE's gaze.

MANE: The Room I Still Dream Of