Even for the untrained eye, hyper-realistic paintings have always fascinated audiences with their mind-boggling illustrations of real-life images, rendered over a flat canvas. The astounding technique and hours of practice put into mastering the ability to shape the way we view a piece of art on the wall never ceases to put us at a loss for words.
Capturing both motion and stillness in a bid to express the essence of Hyper-realistic art, Korean artist Lee Jung Woong’s latest Control in Spontaneity solo exhibition and Brush – Blue series of paintings is a refreshed take on his signature work around the Oriental brush, choosing to use the colour blue (instead of black) to present a meditative and reflexive side.
When asked why he chose to use blue, he told us that it was inspired by his memories growing up on the island of Ulleungdo, where the blues of the sky and sea left an indelible mark in him. After years of working on monochromes, the peace he gets from viewing the sky and river from his window is reflected in his new works.
With Brush – Blue, he shares that it was not a conscious decision to portray both spontaneity and the artist’s control within a determined space, and more a result of his practice. “Spontaneity and control are not that different to me when they exist in the same, singular space. Only with utmost control can I deliver the sporadic, irregular marks that serve to emphasise the realness of the brush, that emulate reality as it is”.
On learning how to appreciate a painting’s potential, he shares that it is important to question all the images we see, and to realise that in art, everything is intentional. “In my practice, know that every ink splotch, swipe and bleed is the result of a gesture I have spent decades mastering.”
So why the Oriental brush? It stems from his heritage and deeply-rooted Korean identity. Using the brush as a metaphor for himself, he views the brush on canvas as a manifestation of himself working, encapsulating his intentions, gesture, and final creation. Merging the concept of creation and the very reality of a painting, he sought to bring the brush to life in front of the viewer’s eyes – hence, his foray into Hyper-realism.
He shares that there’s more to Hyper-realism that just technique and daily practice – that the artist would need years of research and experimenting to really develop a new perspective and individual concepts while still respecting the tradition.
Heard enough and want to view his show-stopping works for yourself? Head on over to Ode to Art from Oct 07 to Nov 07 to catch Control in Spontaneity and his latest Brush – Blue series in exhibition.
To find out more, head over to Ode to Art’s website here.
