Jang Young-Sook’s attachment to abstract imageries and minimalistic compositions originated from her childhood experience to live in a Han-Ok (Traditional Korean House) with a Toenmaru (porch/ deck). By observing the sunlight that shine on the Toenmaru, Jang noticed different shapes and shades forming in the shadows and became fascinated by the ambiguousness that coexisted in both the shadows and in the space. In order to allow her viewer to look at her work comprehensively, Jang likes to keep her work as minimal as possible, but regardless of the minimalistic nature of her work, the process is time-consuming and intensive.

Jang began her Water Series in the mid-2000s. For Jang, water is a representation of her career, and also life itself. To recreate the transparency in water, Jang applies layers of diluted ink with a small brush before sealing the surface with acrylic paint. To quote the artist, “…the deep transparency comes from the part where colors overlap many times. So the blue background in the paintings is a tedious task which takes a very long time to finish.”

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