The acoustic screens of harmony and balance
Kim, Sang, Chul | President of Kong Pyung Art Center
In the traditional painting, the meaning and value the oriental ink paintings
have in the contemporary world may not remain, unchanged.
Along with the process in the socialistic changes of modern times, the abrupt
changes in the aesthetic views requires a new interpretation and checking
on the overall contents of the traditional plastic values and systems including
the oriental black -ink paintings.
Quite naturally, it is in the young newly emerging generations that such
a will and demands are brought forward. These young generations who are
lively, subjective and have active value systems - in a remarkable
contrast with those of older generations - come to appear, sometimes , as
destroyers ; and, sometimes, as path makers to the traditional value systems.
The experiments sought for by these young generations are the very accumulations
of those contents, which is the indication whereabouts our paintings are today and the
undisputed direction to which our paintings should flow tomorrow. In this respect, we should
watch them with keen interest.
The painter Yang Hyun Jung, belonging to the new comer, also, is no exception from this
category. The spirit of oriental - black- ink that comes out throughout her works is
a good showcase that she has gone, beforehand, a great many experimental process in the
world of oriental black ink paintings together with good understanding them as well.
But, her paintings have quite different meanings and directions from the traditional virtues,
say, techniques of splendid brush touch, composition of black ink, the spreading and
penetration in the paper.
The process of her screen _ making a good suck the thick Korean traditional paper into the
water and to construct a particular materiality either by scratching, using a sharp instruments,
or rolling off paper and to construct depth by black ink - may be said ,the so called
,destruction or change to the matter . Such is the general case, besides her, to the painters of
young generation who works mainly on black- ink or Han Ge ( traditional Korean paper ).
They agree, partially, the aesthetic contents or the instrumental functioning, who feel, however,
that are not enough to express their plastic languages. To satisfy those requirements
they changes the materials suitably to their temperaments and put such changes as one of
the most important factors in their workshop.
The finger board of the piano of white and black color which is thick and heavy on the canvas
; or the screen of the painter, the splendid curved lines makes, are much sensual.
Sometimes, on any cases, they presents to, on- lookers, complicated feelings; but, not rigid or
estranger which may be called her strong points of expression.
This is the indication she has on her plastic languages and , at the same time, a firmer
foundation on the understanding she makes to her paintings.
The fact that screens are induced in a set frame of order although they are liberal and without hindrance, are sure indication that she has a firm grasp on the materials to be expressed as well as her instinctive feeling on the management of her painterly language.
A variety of images associated with musical instruments and the like are very crucial
elements to construct the screens of the painter. Through a series of themes which are
being displayed in the name of " Turning , Hearing with closed eyes, A performance for
the closed ears" and the like, the images of instruments coming out through the screens
are not being borrowed by a mere plastic elements, they are a set of contrivances which
have a special functioning and roles. That is to say, the painter try to express the
acoustic message or images by borrowing the visual painterly methods of expression.
The images of musical instruments are the basic signs and key words to pass such kinds
of massages to the viewers.
The so called " Turning " is the selection of incongruous melodies and sounds.
It is to select evenly each different sounds and melodies, and to set them in the rhythm
of harmony. Turning has it basis on the relationship with neighboring rhythms which is
the harmony and combination. What the writer tries to convey in the message, it may be said,
is the harmony from this incongruity and chord from this discord.
Moreover, the fragments of the world map which are being appeared oddly in the background
of the painter's screen are the very subject, the ' Turning ' of which is just completed.
Although they are explanatory and superficial, the messages of the writer are being appeared
here in a concrete connotation. Of course, the painter doesn't see and mean directly a certain
contents of messages by this " Turning "; but, we can surmise, from them, that they includes in a variety of discrepancies, absurdity, and incongruities that may be happen in the affairs
of human life. The painter's screen which puts much emphasis on the acoustic beauty of
feeling and hearing than the beauty of sight is dispersed in the rhythm of movement
throughout her works. The curved lines which are being made by the flowing of the
musical tune and the symbolic images of instruments which make appearance in the screen,
- by those hearing and feeling - are contrivances housing in the characteristic treats of
picture. In recent date, these signs and images are becoming simplified or omitted gradually
as well as being idealized. The screens are turning into dualistic organization based on the
contrast; the images are coming to appear in a most simplified forms.
This is an another sign of turning point for the writer which is also a reflection on the
view of her life which changes with the passage of time.
Generally,the writer secures a certain forms of stability in the interpretation and construction
of plasticity. Especially, the sensual response and plastic treatment in the screen are sure
sign that the writer has a capacity and passion on her work. The problem is on how
she can treat the images which are being expressed directly against the screen.
The harmony of the strongly cut images with the background of special characteristics is
the task the writer have to solve.
We will watch her with keen interest on the solution by her passion on the workshop
and her sense formation of plastic language.