Exhibition Information

Isle
2018 oil on canvas 91 x 116.8cm

A room of kite
2019 oil on canvas 80.5 x 100cm

Oasis
2019 oil on canvas 130 x 162cm

			Return to the ldyllic World

Viewing a picture in a fixed frame is similar to contemplating the daily of man caught in a social and physical system. The objects, figures, time and space in a painting are tightly organized by the artist to convey a single message. The morern life of an individual is firmly controlled inside of a social and physical frame to perform a specific role. We are bound by regulated time units and spatial constantly alarms us every minute and second, like a smart phone GPS. Modern life is controlled and regulated not only by the space-time frame but also by our relationships with other people. This system marks and locates an individual in a comprehendible social layout.

The ordinary approach to viewing a picture through a frame will cause the viewer to fail at an interpretation of Min Su Kang's art series. In his works, he alludes to objects and figures, time and space, but these elements are not clearly or logically combined. His artworks are full of characters that seem to be unrelated th each other. Ln his mixed and distorted spatial backgrounds, time flows so juxtaposed as a single scree. This unusual color spectrum, one that can never coexist naturally, causes visual discomfort to the viewer. In this illogical scene the artist is saying, "Imagine my childhood and your childhood standing in the space of the ideal." How can this picture depict the ideal scene of childhood standing in the space of the ideal." How can this picture depict the ideal scene of childhood he is talking about? 
Kang's painting series describes what we have lost since our childhood in an odd artistic form. However, his artistic approach clearly exceeds simple recollection of sweet childhood memories. He rather aims to return to a childhood that was once incomprehensible, uncertain, and discontinuous.  

Childhood is more than just a period of eating, playing and gaining the support of your parents. The ego in childhood is able to freely traverse all the social and physical boundaries. The artist's loose brush strokes pass through multiple layers of canvas but never hint at the depth, height nor the boundary of space. Our childhood passes through life through vaguely connected social and physical boundaries. once we stepped  into a lake, freely squeezing water in the peaceful evening. We never thought about hourly pay or any bill by the square meter. In a form that surely existed but did not suppress the ego, we played only through countless social and physical frames of life. Now the artist finds the joy in life through this unfixed, fㅣoating and scattered ego, like a scene from a joyful and colorful kaleidoscope. In his idyllic scene there are no boundaries. No fronts or backs, no doors or windows, we are only speaking to the Flamingos in the lake. 

In his later days Pablo Picasso once said, " It takes a long time to becom young." After passing through countless grids and coordinates of our lives, we may regain the joy of life that we once experienced during childhood. 'Stay a while! You are so beautiful!(Verweile doch, du bist so schon!)

Jin Hyup Song(art ritic)