Sooyeon Hong 2005 _ Gallery IHN_ Seoul

Installation View at the Gallery IHN

Grey #3, 2005, Acrylic on Canvas, 200X140cm

Sooyeon Hong’s work originates from the stains, paint residues, and dried husks of color generated during her artistic process. For a time, she continued the practice of peeling off these layers of paint she had left behind and re-attaching them to canvases or glass walls. It is no surprise that these color planes, as individual entities, have reappeared on the screen. These independent planes of color have evolved on their own and now manifest as forms that delicately reveal their own movement upon the canvas.

To realize this mobility, Hong utilizes the force of gravity to flow liquid colors with pre-adjusted concentrations, accumulating thin layers to create a pictorial object with minimal thickness that adheres as closely as possible to the screen. Regarding this sense of movement, critic Lee Dong-seok once remarked:

“No one knows where it will go, or what will remain once the movement ends. Just as it is in our lives.”

Sashay-red on blue, 2005, Acrylic on Canvas, 100X165cm

Sooyeon Hong’s paintings possess a unique structure composed of multiple layers of acrylic paint. Creating such a multi-layered architecture demands the physical time required for the paint to dry and the repetition of actions, accompanied by planned, delicate control and regulation of the medium.

For the past four to five years, Hong has metaphorically expressed her artistic journey through original exhibition titles. These include "Vestibule" (evoking the light, balanced movement of a cat, emphasizing fluidity and equilibrium), "Firmament" (referring to the sky, which appears as a static image but is in fact dynamic due to the drifting clouds), and "Hoopla" (the excitement and tension-filled movements occurring during festivals or events). These titles reflect her deep affection for fluidity and variability. This inclination likely stems from the nature of her work, which, as seen in the production process, must conform to the flow of time—an irresistible law of nature—as she builds up layer upon layer.