Rapper and painter Cheetah standing in front of her painting ‘The End of Reddened Speed’, Photo|Lee Da-won

“I started painting as a hobby during the pandemic, but now that the work has built up to the point of holding my first solo exhibition, I feel I should see it through to the end. I think each mediumpainting, rap, and so oncan convey different messages, and because I am also known as a singer, I want to use that to my advantage so that the new paintings I create will be known to more people. Since paintings traditionally receive more attention after an artist’s death, even if I have no descendants, I hope to create works that deliver good messages to future generations. Haha.”

The rapper Cheetah has truly broken ground as a painter. From the 9th to April 4, at the Hwang Chang-bae Museum of Art in Yeonhui-dong, Seoul, she will hold her first solo exhibition, ‘Voices Beyond Sound: From Human Greed’ (VOICES BEYOND SOUND), unveiling her paintings to the world.

Rapper and painter Cheetah.

On the morning of the 4th at the Hwang Chang-bae Museum of Art in Yeonhui-dong, Seoul, Cheetah attended a press conference for ‘Voices Beyond Sound: From Human Greed’ (VOICES BEYOND SOUND) and, together with exhibition director Choi Go-un, discussed various aspects of the show.

This exhibition is musician Cheetah’s first official solo show as ‘painter Kim Eun-young’. With the theme of the meaning of all life encompassing nature, animals, and humans, it presents a total of 22 works, from early Genesis pieces to new works. The pieces focus on environmental pollution and ecological destruction hidden behind the development of human civilization, and on the lives sacrificed in the process. Through symbolic images, they unravel how nature and animals have been forced into silence within a world created by human convenience and desire. The artist does not separate the problems of humans and nature, presenting them as beings ultimately situated within the same question.

Cheetah’s ‘Exile of the Wave’

Cheetah said she first began painting during the pandemic. She explained, “I started by trying to express, through painting, the nature and environment I had always been interested in. Being invited to hold my first solo exhibition with those paintings is meaningful and an honor,” and added, “It’s not easy to present something to the world for the first time, is it? I felt I was lacking and initially had doubts, but Director Choi Go-un, who planned the exhibition with me, encouraged me. She saw the potential in my work, which gave me courage, and that is how I came to hold this solo show.”

Exhibition director Choi Go-un, who joined her, added, “I happened to see Cheetah’s paintings three years ago, and they made me want to stop by her studio. I judged that Cheetah’s works have messages that can fully resonate with the public, which led me to plan this exhibition.”

Exhibition director Choi Go-un (left) and Cheetah. Photo|Lee Da-won

Regarding the theme of this exhibition, Cheetah said, “As the title suggests, animals are forced to make sacrifices because of human greed. Animals suffer without even knowing why the Earth is getting hotter,” and continued, “Those of us who know the answers should fully feel that reality, and I wanted people to think about it once morethat is why I chose this title.”

Most of her objects are animals. She said she wants to communicate with the public by conveying new messages through them. Cheetah said, “In the end, every message seems to lead to ‘love’. I hope the living and nonliving things on Earth can each live well in harmony in their own places. I hope they can enjoy all there is to enjoy while they are in this world,” while adding, “The world I live in now is not natural. As much as we enjoy and take from it, I hope we can also give back to nature, and I hope this exhibition will be a small starting point to think about that.”

She also said she will continue her work as a rapper, adding, “It would be great if, down the line, there were an event that brought my paintings and music together in collaboration. I hope the day comes when I can work on it joyfully and have fun.”