CRITIC - MEDIA (Eng)
At first glance, Author Mina Shim’s piece may appear static. The work titled <color+light>(35cm×35cm, acrylic, led, 2023) also exudes a sense of stillness, reminiscent of the tranquility often associated with minimalistic art forms. This perception is primarily attributed to the neatly organized and minimalistic square shape of the artwork that first meets the eye. However, a subtle shift in perspective, transitioning from a frontal view of the artwork to its side, reveals a fascinating transformation. Suddenly, three-dimensional silhouettes emerge, composed of squares of varying heights, which previously appeared flat and uniform. Moreover, the use of distinct degrees of transparent acrylic panels with LED lights serves the perfect material to convey a captivating ink-and-wash painting that plays with light and shadow, featuring a rich interplay of pink, brown and gray hues.
The artist, Mina Shim, has engaged in a thoughtful exploration of expanding the realm of painting. She has embarked on a formative experiment in her artistic expression, utilizing the unique medium of LED lights and colors. This innovative approach exposes the essence of her artwork, represented by <color+light>, which deviates from the conventional characteristics of flatness and traditional mixture of colors. In essence, she has pioneered a new dimension of media art, exemplified in <color+light version 2>, which beckons viewers to explore the the deep inner side of her work through the dynamic interplay of ascending and descending LED lights. This artwork is a kind of digilog to effectively unite her analogue ethos with contemporary digital media technology. Through this synthesis, author Shim addresses her themes related to the aesthetics of our modern society and the prevalent scenery of our times.
- Yie Seung-Kun(Professor / Seoul Institute of the ArtsㆍAesthetics)
: Correlation between LED Lights and Water
The exploration of aesthetic objectives delves deeper by adding colors onto the fundamental elements of art—dots, lines, and planes. Artworks that emphasize the interplay of colors and lights to enrich the spectrum of colors, rather than relying on the monotony of chiaroscuro or black-and-white art, provide compelling evidence of the immense aesthetic possibilities. Author, Mina Shim, embarks on an experimental movement to express aesthetic descriptions using a new media, which is LED lights, departing from conventional painting expressions. Her motivation is to explore the intrinsic resonance evoked by the mixture of colors and lights, leading us into a realm of diverse and affluent artistic appreciation. These artworks also serve as a testament to her contemplation on expanding the aesthetic space beyond the confines of a simple two-dimensional painting panel by incorporating three-dimensional projections. Furthermore, they create interactive spatial images within the domain of emotional healing, extending her reflections on the mixture of water and light as materials that offer inner peace, moments of pause, and meditative tranquility. Through these pieces, which incorporate water and LED lights, she aspires for the effect of “aesthetic correlativity” to transition from her purpose in creating these artworks to the spectators’ “inner sense of harmonious aesthetic” when appreciating them.