#artslifedesk — Public Fediverse posts

Animation director Ahn Jae-huun, owner of the studio Meditation with a Pencil, works at his desk in Korea. Ahn will visit the Wexner Center for the Arts later this September. Credit: Courtesy of Meditation with a Pencil

The Wexner Center for the Arts will host a five-part event series dedicated to the work of Korean animation director Ahn Jae-huun throughout September. 

According to the center’s website, Ahn is known for his work on American shows like “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy,” as well as founding his own Korean film studio called Meditation with a Pencil. The studio’s main goal, according to the center’s website, is creating “drawings that cure and colors that touch one’s heart.” 

The upcoming event series — presented in conjunction with Cartoon Crossroads Columbus, or CXC — is set to begin with a  7 p.m. Tuesday screening of Ahn’s “The Shaman Sorceress” — a film about a shaman whose son returns to his family a converted Christian after many years away, causing family conflicts to arise — at the center. 

Melissa Starker, creative content and public relations manager at the Wexner Center, said working with CXC to bring influential artists like Ahn to Ohio State is really important for the center.  

“[This event] illustrates the mission of Cartoon Crossroads — and by extension The Wex — of bringing important, and inspiring and influential artists to Central Ohio,” Starker said.

The series also includes a Sept. 24 screening of “The Road Called Life,” which is based on Korean short films and follows two market vendors who discover they share more commonalities than they initially thought. Notably, Ahn will attend this screening, according to the center’s website. 

A discussion event with Ahn and Kyoung Lee Swearingen, an Ohio State associate professor of design and moving-image production, is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sept. 26. 

On the same day, a 7 p.m. screening of “Green Days” — another Ahn film that centers around a group of children and their respective career aspirations — and corresponding Q&A will unfold, according to the center’s website. 

The series’ final event is a screening of  “The Shower” — a film that follows the story of a young boy who befriends a girl while walking to school in the rain, sparking a bond — on Sept. 29.

Swearingen said she became aware of Ahn’s work after meeting him in Korea.

“I watched ‘Green Days’ and I was absolutely blown away,” Swearingen said. “It was such a beautiful story. I absolutely loved everything about it, so I approached him and said, ‘Hey, can you come to Ohio State?’” 

Swearingen said Ahn jumped at the opportunity to come to Columbus.

“He heard about [Ohio State], and he was curious. He was very curious about the animation community, the Korean community and the art community here,” Swearingen said. “He was also interested in connecting with [United States] audiences. He’s shown his films in the U.S., but not much.” 

Swearingen said Ahn will also visit numerous Ohio State classes, including those focused on animation and Korean studies. She said Ahn wants to be as involved with the Columbus community as possible during his time in town. 

 “This is probably the biggest event he’s participated in the U.S.,” Swearingen said. “He’s excited to meet as many students and as many faculty as he can.” 

Beyond its partnership with CXC, the event series is supported by an Ohio State visiting artist grant, according to the Ohio State Office of Academic Affairs website. 

Starker said the importance of CXC providing free events for the local arts community cannot be understated.

“One of the great things about CXC is that they have tried to stick to a mandate that everything is free,” Starker said. “Not only is it a no-risk opportunity to hear about creatives like Ahn Jae-huun, who is very little known in the U.S., and to see those artists who are really well-known, but also to go to the marketplace and check out what’s being made locally.” 

Tickets for Ahn’s Wexner Center for the Arts events can be reserved for free on the center’s website.

Gibson Davis poses for a photo after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in moving-image production from The Ohio State University in 2024. Credit: Courtesy of Gibson Davis

Roll out the red carpet for this Ohio State alum.

On Aug. 18, Gibson Davis — who graduated from Ohio State in the spring with a degree in moving-image production — won the 2024 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Ohio Valley Chapter, College Student Productions Awards Emmy in the “Fiction – Short or Long Form” category. 

Davis said his winning film — titled “Hold Your Breath” — follows two scavengers living in a post-apocalyptic world, who form a bond in the most unlikely of times. The story was partially inspired by Davis and his wife, Alycia Davis’, experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“[The film] was very loosely inspired by the story with my wife and how we got together, and ultimately having a kid during the pandemic,” Davis said. “I thought it would be interesting to explore what it’s like for people to go through something like that during, quote-unquote, ‘the bleakest of times.’”

Davis said the film, which includes no dialogue, was originally going to pay homage to silent-era comedies like “Safety Last!” and “The General.” But as the project developed, it morphed into a science-fiction/action film with an emotional core.

“I’ve always liked this idea of characters being unable to speak because of gas masks,” Davis said. “I really do love that silent filmmaking expression, ‘A picture tells a thousand words,’ and going forward, I plan to embrace that much more.”

Chris Skomra, a Columbus producer and technician, longtime friend and collaborator of Davis and executive producer of “Hold Your Breath,” said he is always happy to help Davis with a new project. 

“It was a joy for me to help him produce this story where I could see the different callbacks and the little motifs that he put in, attaching the story of our two characters in the film, reflecting a mirror image of some things Alycia experienced,” Skomra said.

Growing up, Davis said he always knew the career path he wanted to follow. 

“When I was 7, my grandma got me a little camcorder that sparked my interest. From there, I have always had a camera in my life,” Davis said. “I have been obsessed with making stories on film since then. It started small with my friends in the basement during sleepovers making silly little sketches, and over time it developed.” 

Davis attended high school at the Delaware Area Career Center — a Columbus high school that offers students the opportunity to take more career-focused courses, also known as DACC — where he said he took digital design classes. 

At the career center, Davis said he began to develop true industry skills and create a professional network of peers. He said his experiences at DACC helped him land work on commercials, music videos and short films. 

After graduating from DACC, Davis said he initially planned to attend Bowling Green State University, but having a child during the pandemic changed those plans and led him to Ohio State. 

“I’ve found a place where I can cultivate my family, and not have to sacrifice the important years and still work on my filmmaking,” Davis said. 

Davis’ goal is not just making films in Ohio, but making them for Ohio.  

“I love the idea of making films set in Ohio, for Ohioans,” Davis said. “That’s where I’m from, and I think I can tell the best story there.” 

Notably, Skomra said Columbus’ film scene is currently on a downturn, as bigger companies have internalized services they used to outsource.  

“The days of going onto a 30-to-50-person crew, large-scale commercial [project] that you’re not just taking because you have to take it, but you’re taking it because you would want to do the work, those days are slowly fading,” Skomra said. “We have a small chance to turn that around. If we don’t do something soon, we’re going to be in a worse spot than we are now, and my goal is to help change that.” 

Skomra said he feels thankful for young talents like Davis, who are committed to staying and creating within the Midwest.

Should he “make it big,” Davis said he would love to return to Ohio State’s film program, which he said he believes has the “potential for greatness.”  

“If I ever make it, the school will know because I’ll want to work with them,” Davis said. “I want to thank the people who got me to where I did.” 

Though Davis said he is not currently working on any official projects, he said he is “always working on something.” 

To watch “Hold Your Breath” — which will likewise be considered for a National Student Productions Awards Emmy — visit Davis’ YouTube channel.