Artist Kim Hyun-jung presents intriguing abstractions. Though her work exudes a bright and cheerful atmosphere, there’s an intentional expansiveness that hints at something more complex. The selection of a single color attempts to break free from the confines of the canvas, revealing an open-ended conclusion through the harmonious overlapping of colors. Her work feels gentle yet strong, leaving an impression akin to a human presence―quietly approaching, but with undeniable strength. The division of planes along vertical and horizontal axes creates a simple, yet compelling balance, blending seamlessly with her use of color. While tranquil, her compositions hold a certain restrained intensity, as if preparing for a passionate outburst.

Recently, Kim has been focusing on abstract depictions reminiscent of water’s surface, although she previously painted realistic landscapes. The familiar surroundings of Andong Dam, where she has spent much of her life, began to feel different, awakening a desire for change. As she gazed at her reflection on the water’s surface, the landscapes she once painted transformed into abstractions. As if projecting her life onto the canvas, the two-dimensional planes begin to take on a sense of bas-relief, where highlights overlap like lines. She captures the hardships of life through her own unique color palette, simplifying the shapes of mountains, lakes, and trees to form outlines. Like a reflection in a decalcomania, she explores the contrast between the landscape above and beneath the water, revealing her own presence alongside it.

Water, in Kim’s work, becomes tangible in a different way. With simplicity and comfort as the foundation, her forms fill the canvas with brightness―a choice that didn’t come overnight. Her life changed after marriage and the birth of her child. Observing her child’s untamed nature, she began to reflect on the concept of freedom. The desire for perfection that she had as a mother mirrored her earlier struggles, and she began to release these compulsions through her art. As she gradually let go of the need for perfection, she approached her landscapes with a more relaxed mindset, experimenting with lighter colors. Her works began to reflect a dreamlike atmosphere, like mist hovering over a lake. The vibrant, lighter hues gradually replaced her former deep blues, and a new dimension was born on the canvas. The reflective contemplation she found while gazing at water influenced her work, and her paintings began to express her emotional state without heaviness. Through this process, she realized that the pursuit of happiness wasn’t something distant, and she started to view life more positively. Acknowledging that feelings of lack would always accompany life, she focused on refining her approach. Her paintings invite us to take a moment of rest, to pause amidst the repetitive passage of time. Rather than directing us towards a specific path, her works present a flow that embraces the present moment as it is.