Echo in the Silence: Younghwan Chung

SEOJUNG ART is delighted to announce Younghwan Chung's solo exhibition 《Echo in the Silence》 running from January 13 to February 17, 2024. This exhibition unveils a narrative centered around a lush forest, conceived from the artist's imagination. It aims to evoke a sense of aesthetic tranquility and comfort, drawing on the forms of nature.

The exhibition invites viewers to engage with the artist's perception of nature not as mere representation, but as a form of contemplation, encouraging a focus on the subtle shifts in color. The consistently titled 'Mindscape' series captures scenes of various trees merging into a forest, all viewed head-on. Challenging the conventional notion that objects blur when out of focus, Chung's forests stand with impeccable clarity and orderliness. Their arrangement is so methodical that, within our traditional understanding of painting, they might even seem artificially structured.

The emergence of paintings focused solely on landscapes, without the presence of human figures, began in the frescoes of 14th-century Italy. Over time, this genre diversified into various branches, depending on the presence of ancillary elements and the emphasis on flora and fauna. However, it was the evolution from merely ‘realistic’ representations of nature to the conception of 'ideal landscapes' that prompted a reexamination of the meaning of representation.

As if tracing footsteps to a mystical and sparsely populated space, Younghwan Chung unfolds natural forms and familiar landscapes into surreal details, crafting them into idealized landscapes. The artist deliberately avoids assigning a dominant subject to these landscapes, refusing to create a hierarchy based on spatial perception and composition, which is clearly demonstrated in his frontal compositions. The intricately depicted details are not just for effectively revealing the subject but rather serve as a process of continuously concealing and covering, embodying a contemplative spirit. Chung uses the term 'excerpting' to describe this approach, suggesting it is more a symbolic tool than a mere representation.

The contrasting hues of red and green forests represent not just a contrast of warmth but an expansion of an idealized world through color variations. They aim to showcase the sublime power of nature, the communion with it, and the boundless realms symbolized by deep solitude, stretching beyond the confines of the canvas into the imagination.

Reflecting the exhibition's title, ‘Echo in the Silence’ encapsulates a synesthetic imagery where visual contemplation returns as auditory reverberation. Just as the steadfast trees of the verdant forest symbolize integrity throughout the seasons, filling the densely packed canvas with their presence, this exhibition hopes to convey the artist's message of solace to its viewers.