Innocent Blossom: Doyou Hwang

Doyou Hwang' s paintings can be described in many ways, but one quality that all his audiences can agree on is "purity." His ultimate goal is to explore pure pictoriality, which he achieves through various methods, including his signature technique: the Holistic Brushstroke. This theory, originated by the Qing dynasty's Buddhist monk artist Shih T'ao, proposes that all things begin with a single stroke, which contains the universe and everything beyond. Hwang has translated this idea into his own language, emphasizing the importance of the hand and the senses in creating an expression that starts and ends with a single stroke. This approach allows him to achieve a unique and sensual expression that cannot be replicated by other tools.

 

Hwang's works often feature a recurring character–a girl, named Alice–who is deeply rooted in the artist's personal–a strange, mystical–experiences. Hwang was once captivated by a surreal sight of girls and mist rising from the water in the countryside while on a winter walk with his sisters, and this impression has since become a defining feature of his work. The mystical girls in the landscape, all named Alice, have become the artist's most significant source of inspiration, a muse, and continue to be the central motif in his paintings.

 

In "Innocent Blossom," Hwang Doyou's signature dreamlike Alices are brought to life with greater saturation and color. Celebrating the new season after a long winter, Hwang's canvases are filled with colors of joy. While his previous Alices boasted an air of mystery and mystique, this time around, the artist infuses that ethereal atmosphere with life and vitality with his signature palette. When combined with the artist's unique technique, these girls create a distinctive atmosphere that not only makes them beautiful but also imbues them with a sense of primeval wildness. This may be because, to the artist, purity means more than just clarity and serenity; it is also about exploring the fundamental energy of painting.

 

"Innocent Blossom" brings together Hwang Doyou's signature innocent and mysterious girl characters with the vibrant colors of a new, blooming season. The exhibition provides an opportunity to reflect on the purest form of painting, with a focus on the minimal and fundamental elements that Hwang has always explored. We invite you to explore the deeper and more colorful world of Hwang Doyou's Alices through this exhibition.