제1회 양평미술상 수상작가전 설경철 展

[임재]

제1회 양평미술상 수상작가전

설경철 展

From the book

Episode 109(from the book)_76x134cm_Acrylic on Canvas_2014

양평군립미술관 B1

2024. 9. 26(목) ▶ 2024. 10. 8(화)

경기도 양평군 양평읍 문화복지길 2 | T.031-775-8515

www.ymuseum.org

Episode1416(from the book)_48x69cm_Acrylic on Korean-paper_2010

Artistic World of Kyung-Chul “Kacey” Seol :

Where Imagination Transcends Reality and Dreams Take Flight

Shin, Hang-Sub (Art Critic)

Kacey's artistic creations are born from a deep understanding of reality. His hyper realistic approach, marked by meticulous detail and precision, is so masterful that it blurs the line between paintings and photographs. The way he captures forms can lead viewers to mistake the artwork for real objects, a testament to his unparalleled skill. His goal is to immerse the audience in an illusion of reality while also sharing his unique artistic concepts, reflections, or philosophical insights.

Before his creations, one must appreciate the proficiency of his technique. His style of hyper-realism is so sophisticated that it exceeds the exact replication of a camera, even contesting the visual representation produced by contemporary technology. The underlying message in his paintings, serving as a medium for suppressed desires, is to infinitely broaden our perception of beauty beyond the limits of reality. For instance, his 'untitled' series, which features hyper-realistic depictions of everyday objects, is a testament to his technical prowess and artistic vision.

Episode0736(from the book)_80x117cm_Acrylic on Canvas_2004

The primary focus of Kacey's artistic creations is literature, particularly ‘books’. A significant portion of his oeuvre that incorporates books appears to illustrate the concept that literature can be expressed through a visual medium. His work often features open books, with their pages filled with vibrant, abstract imagery, suggesting that the stories and ideas contained within these books can be visually represented. Traditionally, a book is regarded as a compilation of paper primarily intended for conveying information via written text. However, Kacey's innovative view of the tangible structure of the book as an entity capable of embodying literary significance leads to a unique visual representation, thereby crafting an innovative artistic realm that intertwines literary elements with visual artistry.

Using an open book's imagery, Kacey effectively conveys the concept of temporal continuity and the progression of occurrences. This collection of artworks employs the motif of a book ㅡ representing human intellectual pursuits and the gathering of knowledge ㅡ as a metaphor to illustrate humanity's unquenchable thirst for intellectual fulfillment.

Episode 0509(from the book)_89.5x131cm_Acrylic on Canvas_2005

Kacey's use of language in his art transcends the familiar and enters the ethereal, artistic realm he constructs. Within this intangible space, language is redefined and recreated with wholly novel significances. This transformative power of artistic expression‎, termed ‘surrealism’, is a testament to the potential of art to change perceptions, inviting the viewers to reconsider their understanding of reality.

His artistic creations illuminate the notion that the interplay between reality and unreality and between reality and surrealism resembles two facets of a single entity. This phenomenon occurs due to his ability to engage our subconscious yearning for liberation from the limitations imposed by reality, fostering a belief in the potential to possess the freedom to dream expansively. His art evokes and intensifies these latent aspirations and desires within us.

Episode 2104_61x40cm_Oil, Acrylic on Computer Hard ware_2014

Episode9705(컴맹)_72x63cm_Oil,Acrylic on Computer Hard-ware_1997

Episode 9909_Oil,Acrylic on Computer Hard-ware_1999

Episode 0311_91x62cm_Oil,Acrylic on Computer Hard-ware_2003