Jang Young-Sook

South Korean painter 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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Selected Works

Jang Young-Sook

Wave #1, 2007
Acrylic on Canvas
130 × 194 cm
 

Jang Young-Sook

Swimming Pool #1, 2008
Acrylic on Canvas
130 × 194 cm
 

Jang Young-Sook

Water Drops #3, 2003
Acrylic on Canvas
56 × 80 cm
 

Jang Young-Sook

Wave #2, 2005

Acrylic on Canvas

97 x 130 cm

Jang Young-Sook

Wave #4, 2003
Acrylic on Canvas
56 × 80 cm
 

Jang Young-Sook

Wave #8, 2004
Acrylic on Canvas
38 × 76 cm
 

Jang Young-Sook

Water Drops #1, 2008

Acrylic on Canvas

130 x 194 cm

Jang Young-Sook

Water Drops #2, 2004

Acrylic on Canvas

130 x 97 cm

Jang Young-Sook

Swimming Pool #2, 2008
Acrylic on Canvas
32 × 41 cm

Jang Young-Sook

Wave #5, 2004
Acrylic on Canvas
35 × 90 cm
 

Jang Young-Sook

Wave #7, 2002
Acrylic on Canvas
45 × 45 cm
 

Jang Young-Sook

Wave #3, 2005

Acrylic on Canvas

80 x 100 cm

Jang Young-Sook

Wave #9, 10, 11, 2004
Acrylic on Canvas
32 × 41 cm