Professor KimCould it be our shared pursuit of structures and principles that transcend individual phenomena? On campus, flowers bloom and fade, and buildings rise and disappear. Whenever I encounter these changing landscapes, I find myself asking, “Why?” Questions about visible phenomena and the forces operating beneath them form the starting point of my work, and visual language is a way of searching for answers through images.

Professor KoI agree. When you analyze thousands of languages, you begin to discover simple yet solid underlying principles beneath their outward complexity. Linguistic expressions capture only fragments of human thought, while linguistics seeks to model the unconscious cognitive systems that lie beneath them. In that sense, linguistics and oriental painting are not so different: both pursue the invisible essence underlying the phenomena we encounter.

Professor KoMy fascination with language began during my undergraduate years, though perhaps not in the usual way. Rather than simply wanting to speak well, I found myself constantly asking questions such as, “Why do people use certain expressions?” and “Why is grammar structured this way?” As I continued searching for answers to those questions, I eventually found myself drawn to linguistics.

Professor KimFor me, the year 2005 was a turning point. Until then, much of my work centered on bamboo, exploring questions such as, “Where does one joint begin and end?” and “What defines a boundary?” Then, in 2005, I suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon and was bedridden for a long period of time. At first, I directed my resentment outward, but eventually, I turned my attention inward. I came to realize the deep interconnections between all things and how those connections carry their own direction and purpose. That realization marked the beginning of my constellation series.

Professor KOWhen I explain linguistics to students, I often compare it to the periodic table in chemistry. Just as countless substances can be explained through combinations of a limited number of elements, innumerable linguistic expressions can likewise be structured through elements such as nouns and verbs, together with the lines that connect them. That is why my research notes are filled with lines. Connecting subjects and verbs to establish relationships—and then extending those relationships through further connections—is part of my everyday work.

Professor KimThe similarities are remarkable. A constellation can be created with nothing more than two points and a single line. Points alone possess no directionality; no matter how many are placed together, they remain confined to static two- or three-dimensional forms. Lines, however, inherently contain directionality. In the end, constellations are the sum of directional lines—the projection of humanity’s long-held desires and aspirations onto the night sky.

Professor KoOne of modern linguistics’ key principles is Merge. A limited set of elements can be combined through lines to generate an infinite number of hierarchical sentences capable of expressing human thought. In that sense, mapping the structure of language may not be so different from Professor Kim’s process of drawing constellations.

Professor KimFor more than 20 years, I created constellation-based works by connecting stars with straight lines. Looking back, I realize that I was confining myself to the physical principle that light travels along the shortest path. Then one day, I suddenly wondered, “Why does it have to be a straight line?” The moment I abandoned the straight line, the canvas seemed to glow with possibilities. Breaking away from a framework I had long believed to be correct gave me a profound sense of freedom.

Professor KoTree structures in linguistics underwent a similar transformation. Until the early 2000s, we drew only straight-line trees. Today, however, we create three-dimensional trees that rotate like mobiles and are connected by curved lines. At first, the idea was dismissed as absurd, but it is now recognized that certain linguistic phenomena can only be understood through curved connections. In hindsight, what is perhaps most surprising is how long it took us to break away from the convention of straight lines.

Professor KimEmpty space is a profound concept precisely because it leaves something unfilled. But for such space to emerge on the canvas, it must first exist within the artist. I believe this applies not only to painting but to life as well. Even amid the busyness of everyday life, we need to leave room for existence itself. Such spaces allow us to breathe and create the possibility for the unexpected to emerge.

Professor KoThe same is true in linguistics. Often, the implications of exchanges between speakers and listeners carry greater significance than the words themselves. For example, when someone asks, “Did you enjoy the play?” and the response is, “The actors were good,” the listener naturally infers what has been left unsaid—that the rest of the performance may not have met expectations. The depth of conversation ultimately depends not only on what is explicitly stated but also on how speakers and listeners fill in the empty spaces.

Professor KimIn the age of AI, empty space may become even more important. It transcends information and, paradoxically, amplifies meaning through absence. Empty space expands the invisible relationships beneath the surface and brings us back to what is fundamental.

Professor KimConstellations represent humanity’s creative transformation of the gravity of existence into the realm of play. They are also the result of bold efforts to connect stars that at first appear chaotic and unrelated. I hope students will embrace a Don Quixote-like spirit and dive in without fearing failure. If they continue drawing bold and seemingly reckless lines, they may one day discover a constellation that is uniquely their own.

Professor KoI would emphasize the importance of staying with questions rather than rushing toward answers. AI has brought us into an era where answers are more accessible than ever before. Yet developing one’s own voice requires the patience to endure ambiguity in the absence of certainty. I hope students will experience the quiet joy of waiting and the exhilaration of seeing the pieces of a puzzle finally fall into place.