SUH, KYOUNG-JA, “THE EXPRESSION OF MIND”

 At the moment when I faced the work by Kyoung-ja, Suh, I received this instant impression that is incredibly tranquil and temperate. I truly mean it when I say it. I have wondered how she could have done such a lovely work in the middle of this giddy whirl of modern life. Along the turbulently changing trends of the world, we may hardly find a painting worthwhile for appreciation. Moreover, although there are humongous amounts of art works coming out everyday, we rarely encounter with enjoyable works as in the care of lack of drinking water after a flood. Regarding all these factors, I was so exhilarated to meet her work like finding an oasis in the middle of a desolate dessert. It always feels good to face such a pure and innocent work rather than burdensome or overly-touched ones.

Her painting even delivers friendly emotions to us unlike the other abstract ones do. The circumstances of scenery are literally gentle and every element in the picture seems to be neatly in order. Introducing her honesty from her heart, she controls spaces not too flashy nor over exaggerated, but clean and calm. It may be important to ornament the external part, but the more important thing to be noted is to cultivate one's mind in pursuance of art. Focusing on outward appearance, one could be more violent and possibly sinks into a deep despondency. Even though one has accomplished a lot of graces, he or she is not able to share its impressions and sensations with others if the accomplishments are not from one’s purified hearts.

A light bulb without a power never can flourish its light. Otherwise, any bulb being connected with power source would take a role to brighten its surrounding place by dint of the electric power. Power must be supplied to a blown out light and then the bulb can finally operates itself as a fine one at anytime.

All plants are sensible to rainfall because it would gain its vitality of growth through a process of changes within itself and then it will bring out a change in its outlook, completing a combined change for itself. The organism of a man souls always be granted the ability of interact with other objects around his or her life including the spiritual entity through personal, social and historical development in his growth. It is therefore man can hardly keep on his life merely on material substance. When a man is closely harmonized with the essential entity, he will eventually suffice the absence, interruption become continuation, and eventually disorder will become in good order.

Her picture is comfortable to enjoy and her techniques are unsophisticated. She shows how to create reverberating spaces only with easy touches. She initially sprays diverse densities of dark and greenish colors on a canvas and waits until it dries out on it. She, then, whether delivers some drawing effects with solid or dotted lines, or puts certain shapes like a circle. It could be seen as a transformed technique from what we see through ‘All-over’ paintings. Coloring, that delivers her own image, is the only difference in her paintings from ‘All-over’ paintings. Her painting could not be the same as ‘All-over’ paintings because the original concepts were different from the first. No single element in her picture is careless; I hardly see awkward parts or flustered dyes. It tells me that she fully devoted her passion and tenderness into the canvas. With application of any particular painting method, she has an abundant artistic quality by technical skill accompanied by a distinguished subtlety, sensibility of grace and the purity that define her to be placed alt the higher level of artist.

Suh’s painting is peaceful. It reminds me a glittering sunlight on a shining stream or a breeze through the midst of the woods. Any viewers can be amazed by the spontaneity of her painting. It is clear that she is releasing something that she has been holding; not intending to express something new. Her painting contains an indefinable composure and easiness.

There is not a bit of showing off her ability with fragments of subjectivity or individuality in the course of her artwork. Tuning every source of the painting composition to the exactthe whole image of her painting would always approach us with moderately restrained impression. On the ground of the canvas, not only the colors intimately arranged together but also the ground of canvas functions marvelously. In fact, the patterns of water and wind floating over the pictorial surface can not be described without the meticulously composed ground. Adding the intensive colors of yellow and green on the ground with the color of Chinese ink, the painting generates the higher formative effect.

The art works of Suh, Kyoung-ja impresses the profound feeling and serenity as if one were at the lake side, embracing its viewers with immense comforts. The clear and bright world after disappearance of the fog, cloud and storm! Apart from the worldly noise her paintings seem to have singing of the peace in the heaven so sweetly. The water being obtained from the well of peace will not cause any trouble however much a man may drink it, and it will refresh out mind and heart to our satisfaction.

2005.9.12

By Seo, Sung Rok

Art Critic