Welcome, and thank you for visiting my modest gallery tucked away in a quiet corner.

Here you will find a variety of my works—large and small, diverse in character and spirit. I arranged them in this way because, seen together, they may give you a clearer sense of who I am.

To be honest, I often feel my lack of formal training and the limited time I have been able to devote to art. Yet I continue without pause—feeling, learning, and growing in the process.

I am not a master of any single field, nor do I belong wholly to any place. Take what you see as it is, and carry with you whatever impressions remain. Though I began in earnest later in life, I have always sought to keep faith with my first intent—to let neither results nor criticism define me, but to follow the quiet integrity of my own path in art.

At times, a sudden impulse led me to submit small works to competitions, and a few were recognized. In Korea, I once taught art at a high school for about ten years. In 2009, after twenty years of living in Australia, I returned to Korea, where I now work as a sculptor. That, in essence, is the whole of my artistic journey.

I have no interest in heavy philosophy. What moves me are the kinds of impressions that feel like music, and the vivid realities that the world tirelessly brings forth.

I love travel and every kind of documentary, and hold special respect for the creators of BBC Earth, whose programs I watch with admiration. And one thing is certain: without music, I imagine my veins would carry nothing but plain water.

Perhaps artists are simply those who live in the busy square between the entrance of expectation and the exit of fulfillment.

Even if you arrived here by chance, I am grateful.

Yoonki Hong
Born 1952

ADORE-GALLERY
85 Cheongun-ro, Mungyeong-eup, Mungyeong-si Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea

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HotCat – A small door for two cats may open a much larger dilemma

To give Nuna and Latte—who are already used to the outside world—a way to move freely between indoors and outdoors, I am planning to replace my current steel entrance door with a wooden one and add a small door just for them.

For the two of them, it will surely be a joy.

For me, however, it comes with a growing worry.

Other stray cats that wander around here will inevitably discover the open passage as well. If they begin to use it freely, my workshop could easily become their playground—and their feeding place—and I am not sure how I will manage that situation.

Another concern is my neighbor’s yard. It has slowly become the cats’ toilet area, and I cannot continue allowing that to happen.

So I tried to give the visiting cats enough time to find another place.

I gradually removed the feeding containers and water bowls.

What I did not expect was how painful this decision would become—for them, and for me.

At first, after the feeding stopped, the cats seemed confused.

Then, after about a week of not seeing them at all, four of them suddenly returned.

They came right up to me and sat there, sending what could only be understood as a silent distress signal.

What pierced my heart even more was this.

These were the timid ones.

During feeding time, when I divided wet food into eight bowls, the bigger cats would rush forward. These shy ones could never come close.

Yet now they sat directly in front of me, pleading.

Their hunger had clearly overcome their fear.

My pain is mine.
But what about theirs?

The moment that struck me hardest came while I was removing the last bowl.

A tiny kitten hurriedly licked up a few old pieces of dry food that had been hidden underneath it.

Watching that small creature eat those leftover crumbs felt like taking a sudden uppercut in a boxing match.

I asked myself:

“What exactly do you think you are doing?”

Now even stepping outside to enjoy a cup of coffee and a cigarette has become the most difficult moment of my day.

Because whenever I step outside, they are there—waiting.

Perhaps this is judgment.

I cannot see the judge, but neither can I close my ears to that voice.

Long ago I was already a man who took seriously the words of Jesus:

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Because my wisdom is insufficient, I would sincerely appreciate any thoughts or advice from my friends.

I am struggling with three questions:

How can I let these cats go without continuing to cause problems for my neighbor, whose yard has become their toilet?

When I install the small entrance for Nuna and Latte, how can I prevent other cats from using it as well?

If the other cats keep returning, how can I treat them fairly without creating an unfair situation between them and the two cats who already live with me?

Any thoughts or advice would be deeply appreciated.

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