yoo

click images to enlarge

iGreen 9

24" x 36"

Mixed media on canvas

iGreen 12

24" x 24"

Mixed media on canvas

iGreen 11

24" x 24"

Mixed media on canvas

iGreen 10

24" x 24"

Mixed media on canvas

iGreen 5

12" x 48"

Mixed media on canvas

Kyoung Ha Yoo

iGreen 6, 12" x 48", Mixed media on canvas

Artist Statement

My works begin on the slippery slope between abstraction and representation, drawing on such sources as multi-classical folk art, architectural drawings and interior design patterns. My art consists of two aspects, the first is the love of the process, the second is the joy of making.

In my current paintings I explore architectural space and light to trigger loose memories from diverse cultures and social conventions. I strive to express the space of my everyday inner life where spiritual mythology, meditation and personal memories coexist. My goal is to connect such intimate experiences with public spaces and urban landscapes, allowing a wide range of viewers to project themselves into places where there is room for their souls.

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The primary visual elements in my abstract pictures are based on architectural renderings. These landscape drawings are precise, simplified images and schematic, exactly proportioned plans. I add geographic imagery based on contour maps, patterns from fabrics and flags as well as an assortment of other decorative elements. In my previous career as interior designer, I used many new media by trial and error. Now I use these media self-consciously, creating virtual interior spaces that hover somewhere between two and three dimensions. I want viewers to feel as if they have become engulfed by my paintings, in spaces where they can move freely and are unencumbered by the laws of gravity and everyday obligations. I use glow-in-the-dark paint because I love the way stars sparkle on clear nights. This material allows my works to shine in the dark like the stars overhead, to occupy a space somewhere between the indoor and outdoor, as if inviting viewers into an imaginary botanical world.

I believe that art has one purpose: to help us live. Each day that I walk into the studio I realize this truth. Whether comforting or confrontational, the process and the work reaffirm the value of life. The abstract space of consciousness and the visible space of society are interconnected. The experience of a specific public space is projected into a consciousness and established in memory, where it produces multiple identities. I come from a mono-cultural country, Korea, and I was thrown into a multi-cultural country, America. This is reflected in my work combining both Eastern and Western influences.

The bodily experience of space as lodged in the human memory becomes the foundation of consciousness and an individual’s sensibilities. This physiological experience composes one of the most profound continuities of our lives. It is a portrait of contemporary people, each with an “opened window toward the world.” The architectural landscape is a fundamental component of the life code.
The rapid development of transportation and communication has turned the whole world connect, cross over into a global village, one in which previously unimaginable time-and-space compressions and cultural exchanges now take place. Art is abstract by nature, in its essence and form. It eludes definition. I define art extensively, through examples, like the notion of life itself, which is manifest through the act of living. My art brings meaning to our lives by offering us a dreamlike space to which we bring certain significant meanings, defying the monotonous repetition of everyday life. I want viewers to feel comfortable and to meditate, to feel welcome, safe and unburdened by life’s normal restrictions. My paintings invite individuals to escape everyday humdrum life.

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BIOGRAPHY

Born in South Korea

Lives and works in Los Angeles

EDUCATION

MFA – 2005, Claremont Graduate University

BFA – 1999, California State University, Los Angeles

AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS

2006

Catherine Anderson, Russ Tanner, Ernst Ullmer Award PaintAmerica Top50 State (CA)

Sacramento Fine Arts Center 2006- Award of Merit

Emerald Art Center 2006 Juried spring exhibition-Silver Award

2005

Long Beach Arts 2004 Open National Exhibition Honorable Mention

San Bernardino Orange show honorable Mention

2004-5

Fellowship Award-Claremont Graduate University

2001

Korean-American Literate Association Award

2000

Foundation Award California State L.A

1999

Foundation Award Los Angeles City College

SELECTED SOLO & two person show

2008

IGreen - Lawrence Asher Gallery, LA. CA-01/2008

2007

“Transportation” solo show LAAA South/ The Mike Napoliello Gallery.CA“Get Connected” solo show LMAN Gallery. Chung King Road. CA 09/08/07

2005

“Small Works” Hagel Bargers solo show. Claremont.   CA

“Breezy view” MFA show-Peggy Phelps Gallery. Claremont. CA

GROUP EXHIBITION

2007

Alma Ruiz (MOCA) –Biannual show LAAA South

“Six”- Gallery C- Annual Southern California six women show. CA

The Celebrity Vault in Beverly Hills-Jonathan Holiday -LAAA

Art & Architecture 825 gallery-West Hollywood. CA

Michele Urton (LACMA)-Tarfest Art Show 2007 Miracle Mile, Korean Cultural Museum ,CA

Sarah Solis Mattson-Sacramento Fine Arts Center. CA

Pacific Design Center-Blue Building. CA

Gem-825 Gallery.LA.CA

Venice Art Walk -2007

Lman Gallery, Chung King Road, LA. CA

“Reception and Digital” Asian Fusion Gallery at Asian Cultural Center , Manhattan. NY

Mat Gleason-Artscene’s 25th anniversary event at LA County Museum (LACMA)

Darlene D.D-San Bernardino County Museum, 38th Annual multi Media show. CA

2006

Art & Architecture 825 gallery-West Hollywood. CA

Jonathan Holiday-Hollywood’s Historic Music Box Theater

Tarfest Art Show 2006 Miracle Mile, Korean Cultural Museum ,CA

Ashley Mclean Field and Form-825 gallery, LA

Joseph Bellacera-51th Annual Internationl Open exhibition, Sacramento Fine Arts Center, CA

Craig Nelson-40th Annual Exhibition, Placerville Arts Association. Placerville, CA

Kavin Buck-“Painting on the Edge” federation Gallery. Vancouver. Canada

Seattle Asian Cultural Center. Seattle.WA

Jonathan Holiday-L.A Art Exchange auctions (Ebay) Santa Monica.CA

Jazmin Garcia-“Petite Treasures” Michaelangelo Gallery. Santa Cruz. CA

Supersonic-Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Park. CA

Darlene D.D-San Bernardino Art Center 2006 .CA

Sinead Finnerty Gem-825 Gallery.LA

Ruth Bachofner gallery Santa Monica, Bergamot. CA

Scott Shields-Emerald Art Center, Oregon. OR

2005

Wesley Jessup Southern California open show-825 Gallery

Mark Steven Greenfield-2005 Los Angeles Biennial Juried Exhibition Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery,

Barnsdall park , CA

Eagle Rock Center for the Arts, CA

William Grant Still Art Center, CA

Scott Shields-2237 Gallery, Roseville, CA

Larry Bradshaw-7th Annual Abstraction International Upstream People Gallery Omaha, NE

Daniel Foster-San Bernardino Art Center ,CA

Darlene D. D-Huntington Beach Art Center, CA

Chiristopher Miles-Long Beach Art “Imaginary Spaces” Exhibition, CA

Chung Ju Art Center- Chung Ju, Korea

Hagel Bargers “Small Work” solo Exhibition, CA

TV INTERVIEW & BROADCAST

TVK24 10/05/07      7:00pm Prime time News – www.tvk24.com

PUBLICATION/BIBLIOPRAPHY

2007

Ena Yu-The Korea Daily 10/02/07 A-27

ArtScene-http://artscenecal.com/articlesfile/archive/articles2007/CR1007.html

Art in America-ANNUAL 2007-2008 p86,p88

Art ltd. September 2007 p6

Ena Yu-The Korea Daily 09/03/07 A-27

Ena Yu-The Korea Daily 06/29/07 A-27

Bev Morse-South Bay People Volume 4, Issue 1 page58 , June/2007

LA Times clalendar weekend 05/24/2007 E45

LA Times clalendar weekend 06/07/2007 E41

Art ltd. May issue 2007 page 88 “pulse”

ArtScene : 25, The Los Angeles ART AWARDS Catalog

ArtScene-vo 26. no10 p69, June, 2007

American Asian Museum 2007 - Catalog

LA Times clalendar weekend 4/21/2007E45

Ena Yu-The Korea Daily 4/20/2007 A-27

2006

Sacramento Fine Arts Center 2006-Catalog

Supersonic-Municipal Art Gallery, Barnsdall Park. –Catalog

“Painting on the Edge” federation Gallery. Vancouver. Canada-Catalog

Oregon Art week-p2 Emerald Art Center 2006 Juried spring exhibition-Catalog

2005

New Art International, William La Mond, Jeremy Sedley, 2005-6 press

p186 Nov, 2005

Chiristopher Miles, Long Beach Art “Imaginary Spaces” Exhibition

Jan, 2005

korean LA Times-e27

2004

korean LATimes-e26

Lee JungA- Eassay book Cover painting

2003

American Korean annual literature book Cover painting no16

2002
Hayward Art news, “Full Color” Nov, 2002