Gongsan Gallery
2006.01.01 - 01.15

Esthetical Landscape Painting through Replicating
 
Recent art practices tend to emphasize more on meanings and concept of a work than formal perfection of medium; what is meant is fiercely disputed instead of how it is expressed. Consequently, artists tend to select genres that are most appropriate for themes or change medium depending on subjects rather than working with same medium continuously. Painting is no exception; on the contrary to the fact that artists used to obsessed with one medium like sumi ink or oil and spend long period of time to polish their skills in the past. Artists nowadays have easy access to various media and utilize them. This resulted in the change of artist’s focus to finding ways to express themselves without feeling for need of leaning traditional medium. 
 
Kim Hyunchul’s persistent pursuit of traditional realist landscape painting method seems very unique in such condition.  When he was attending college and three to four years after graduation, he was devoted to abstract painting using traditional materials. However, he has pushed forward himself to apply traditional realist landscape painting methods in the last 10 years or so.  His method is based on precise replication of masters’ paintings of the past to achieve perfection of landscape painting skills.  This approach is easily traced back to the traditional eastern art practice, which is evident in phrases reading, what is copied from whose landscape.  It was considered most important and necessary process of learning to replicate someone else’s style to improve skills. It is especially needed when you learn how to use brush technique needed very long period of time. 
 
I wonder whether his taking the distant mountains as subject matter are also the artist Kim Hyunchul’s intention to see the mountains as one whole figure and attempt esthetical recreation.  In his art, reading and analyzing old master’s insights on landscape precedes to revealing the essence and the energy of mountains, or expressing personal impression of the mountains so Kim Hyunchul’s landscape suggests us to look closely at his paintings as if we need decoding them contrary to first comfortable impression on his paintings.  His paintings are truly reinterpretation and newer version of landscape painting.
 
His recent paintings in this exhibition suggest new direction. His confident and vibrant brush strokes draw mountains. When he utilizes sumi ink or paints blue-green landscape, the landscape faces new development. Exploring somewhere beyond characteristics of the site and traditional technique, he is revealing his own light & crispy landscapes.  Now without putting forward the techniques of the past, only filtered through his body, then his own style emerges and reveals the serenity from his landscapes. Their esthetic values make us to focus on the beauty itself rather than reality and this might be the outcome through his long-term esthetical practice.  Realistic yet still plumpness that goes beyond reality is in his paintings and I am looking forward to seeing more development in his art.


Kim, You-sook  C.E.O of Art consulting KAN