Rendering Uhwudong (어우동)
‘Uhwudong / 어우동’ 2017
I recently finally sat down to revisit my old concepts and decided to do a full-body rendering of this character.
🌿 Concept:
‘Seoul 2089’ project:
Uhwudong ~Fox Tailed Lady in Hanbok~
-She lives in the Castle sector of the city in the year of 2089.
-Hanbok: Korean traditional dress.
-Uhwudong is her nickname at her workplace and her real name is unknown.
-She works at a pub that is famous for their hand-made traditional drinks and food.
-The servers all dress in hanbok.
-Sometimes they would have Korean traditional music bands and singers to play some tunes at the bar.
🌿 Reference:
🌿 Inspirations:
1) The Korean historical figure 'Uhwudong (어우동)':
-Originally from a noble family in the Joseon Dynasty.
-Her given name was Guma Park (박구마) and Uhwudong was a nickname.
-After being abandoned by her husband, a royal family member, she became a gisaeng (similar to a geisha in Japan).
-multi-talented in art, poetry, dancing, geomungo (a Korean string instrument; lyre).
-Calligraphy and writing were considered forbidden for women at the time, yet she was one of the few women who dared to excel at it.
2) Gumiho (구미호 / Nine-tailed Fox)
-In Korean folklore, the gumiho is a mythical creature often depicted as a fox that has lived for a thousand years and can shape-shift, usually into a beautiful woman.
-This mythical creature is believed to have lived for a thousand years, gaining wisdom, supernatural powers, and the ability to shape-shift, usually into a beautiful woman. Here's a closer look at the gumiho's lore and characteristics:
1. Origins and Powers
The gumiho is thought to be a fox that has lived a thousand years, gaining magical powers with age. Over time, it transforms into a nine-tailed fox with the ability to shape-shift.
Commonly, the gumiho takes the form of a beautiful woman to seduce or deceive humans, often in pursuit of immortality or to satisfy a desire for revenge.
2. Legendary Traits
Transformation Abilities: The gumiho is known for its shape-shifting abilities, often appearing as a beautiful woman to blend into human society.
Seductive and Dangerous: In many stories, gumihos are depicted as cunning and seductive, sometimes luring people with charm but hiding a darker side.
Soul-Devouring: In older tales, gumihos were said to eat the livers or hearts of humans, believing it would allow them to fully become human.
3. Different Character Portrayals
Evil or Malicious: Traditionally, gumihos were seen as dangerous, often preying on unsuspecting victims.
Tragic and Misunderstood: In modern portrayals, the gumiho is sometimes re-imagined as a tragic figure—a creature longing for a normal human life or struggling against its own darker instincts.
Protective and Loyal: In some retellings, gumihos are guardians or even loyal companions to humans, using their powers to protect those they care about.
