Kim Hyuck-jung Exhibit Opens
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
It's the middle of autumn, when the leaves are turning a beautiful reddish-brown, and a chill is in the air.
Artist Kim Hyuck-jung's oil paintings depict nature's beauty in the autumn season. He is currently holding a weeklong solo exhibition of his paintings of trees and nature at Song Hwa Gallery, Yeoksam-dong, southern Seoul.
Kim, who has had numerous exhibitions around Seoul, creates paintings showing his unique view of nature.
In an exhibition essay, poet Park Ju-gwan said the Kim's paintings at the exhibition show considerable philosophical speculation on the true nature of nature.
``The exhibition takes the role of a compass for a vague world where human speculation on the truth of nature becomes uncertain. … Kim lets nature as it is, so his works closely depict nature. There are no conflicts existing between man and nature,'' Park said.
A resident of Gwangju, Kim has the opportunity of being surrounded by beautiful mountainside scenery. He has always felt a connection with trees and nature.
``Trees stand straight and do not hesitate to grow toward the sky at all. I am reminded of what Kim has always said that human beings are supposed to become one with nature. Also he said, `being lost in a forest makes me feel locked in a prison.' He has always tries to be a formative artist who merges reality and abstraction together,'' Park said.
One does get the of being imprisoned in a forest through some of Kim's paintings that depict layers of bare tree branches, almost like prison bars preventing man from going through.
``Kim meets a new art of space and throws himself with the natural flow. This enables him to understand the world. By this reason, we can call the tree as a wise man that understands simplicity of life, and isolation. This is the reason why Kim's works become more mature, but simpler at the same time, as he sets himself free and pursues freedom of mind,'' Park said.
The exhibit runs through Oct. 30. Visit www.songhwagallery.com or call (02) 556-8631.