Hounyeh Kim (KR)
Text written by GHA
Korean artist Hounyeh Kim works with dynamic and complex abstract patterns in different mediums such as gouache and photopolymer. Shapes and colors interact and combine fore- and background into a harmonious composition.
In her small-format photopolymers her abstract patterns are depicted in black and white with linework of a chalk-like quality that’s similar to sketch-drawings. Circles are recurring shapes that appear in the negative space embraced by soft shades of grey in the hatchings, dots, and soft shadings. The prints show a playful space full of movement that captivate the viewer.
In her gouache paintings she works with muted yet intense colors that lead the eye across the entire paper, leaving no background untreated. This consistently subdued color palette supports the multi-layered abstract structures and grounds the work, reinforcing the feeling of constant movement. The works look like collages and the countless overlays challenge the viewer’s perception of depth.
Straight lines overlaid with curved shapes and circles in contrasting colors play with visual illusions. The viewer is encouraged to find identifiable figures in the work. However, this attempt to connect the shapes and surfaces seems to fail. On closer inspection, the layers change as their elements appear to interact with each other, similar to a kaleidoscope. In the compositions, the viewer is invited to engage with their current feelings to try to grasp the order and arrangement of the pictorial elements. The paradoxical titles give little clue to the interpretation of these pictures, but rather reinforce the feeling of uncertainty and curiosity. The audience is invited to surrender to the compositions and simply enjoy this harmonious abstraction.
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