Dreamy (2023 Korean Young Artists Series)

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong presents Dreamy, the annual Korean Young Artists Series exhibition from 25 May until 22 July. The exhibition highlights the works of three artists, PARK Gwangsoo, SONG Sumin and RYU Yaerim, on the theme of dreams and implicit possibilities. These artists leading Korean contemporary painting establish their art world on the canvas through different methodologies. Although the techniques, methods of expression and the themes they would reveal through their works are different, there is a common keyword in the works of the artists, which is ‘the possibility arising from ambiguity’.

In the works of PARK Gwangsoo, the potential of painting derived from dots and lines exists. PARK describes his painting as “lines expand the world as continuously changing their roles.” To him, dots and lines mean infinite possibility. While dots and lines are means of assistance for shaping in traditional paintings, in PARK Gwangsoo’s paintings, they stand out as the main factor on canvas. In the case of the works of 2015, even the colors are absent and the artworks are just the collection of the shapes and backgrounds constructed of dots and lines. These vibrant lines connote the possibility of being transformed into any figure or background. His recent works of 2022, slim lines changed into brushstrokes, and these brushstrokes formed color-fields and shapes.

The paintings of SONG Sumin can be approached with the possibility of the diverse interpretations images have. The beautiful nature scenes on the canvas are intimate and alien at the same time. The glorious flowers, fireworks and clouds in the landscape paintings are ‘picturesque’ when viewed from a distance, but when examined closely, the overlapping of ambiguous images leaves the chance of interpretation from multiple angles. The coexistence of flowers in bloom and a burnt mountain, a sky background in a landscape painting that can be explained by any among clouds, smoke, petals, or abstract shapes, and the juxtaposition of the image of flowers in bloom and flames make the audience feel uncanny. These images leave room for interpretation and enable people’s imagination to unfold. The round canvas that the artist attempted also assists to dream new possibilities and infinite imagination of painting by breaking away from the square format.

The paintings of RYU Yaerim show the boundless possibilities narrative the art can have. RYU stated the reason of painting exotic characters and backgrounds in her paintings is because “those unfamiliar characters and places enable infinite time that cannot be limited as they cannot be defined and calculated.” In addition, the artist leads an active yet unkind narrative structure through two communication methods- painting itself and its title. Both the painting and the title contain a very clear message without abstraction, however, it is full of mysterious factors for the audience to think about. The room for interpretation is open to the viewers with the different angle from the abstract paintings.

The keyword ‘possibility’ that penetrates the theme of this exhibition naturally coincides with the ultimate goal of the “Korean Young Artists Series” which have been held for the 6th time at the Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong. In the title “Korean Young Artists Series”, ‘young’ does not necessarily stand for the physical age, but also symbolizes the potential artists have. The series highlights the potential and possibilities of artists and let them showcase their works to a wider audience. In this sense, it can be said that the works of these three artists are suitable to showcase as the first “Korean Young Artists Series” resuming after the pandemic.