Shim, Woong taik

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A Thinking Song

The Pictorial Aesthetics of Shim Woong Taik

Written by Kim Byeong Su, Art Critic

I.

A serious song is a search for something profound. The paintings of Shim Woong Taik are lyrical poems just one step away from the trend, a world seemingly transparent, but in reality painted in dim white colours. It looks as if the world is gently uncovered, but it is nothing but an intended effect. Lines are drawn as if trying to erase something. The scenes depict chilly lyricism like water-colours, but, in fact, they thing of complicated and subtle sentiments with feeble power. They are a fateful softness. They are plants that think : none the less, it is not that the sensitive tendrils chaotically creep over everything. They are sometimes severed and they protrude, in a snap, out of the canvas onto somewhere in the white wall. What you see reveals what you do not see. This is the trail where the traditional concept of Northeast Asian painting encounter the world of cogitation.

II.

The lines and colours of Shim Woong Taik's paintings seem more attentive to melodies rather than rhythms. Instead of trying to heighten the human emotion with repetition or modulation of some musical notes, they rather impress the people with "singing talent." Love and similar traditional values constitute the main themes of heart-moving stories. A different approach of examination produces a new interpretation of this stereotypic theme. He said he did not want to leave the nature yet. Why is the nature suddenly brought up ? Is it about the "mountains and streams" once again? Is it about the nature as a moral perfection or the nature as a flawless phenomenon? He does not seem to insist in viewing the nature under such notions. His world of paintings is far from moral metaphysics. His sentimentalism is just an imagination about objects. A brook is a brook, a pollen a pollen and a spore a spore. Here lies his style of search. A search is not necessarily trying to get an elucidation from above nor a blind wielding of a sword. When asking a question, the target of question or, in other words, the object being questioned, should be protected. Anything that is asked about is important. It should be examined under the patronage of the questioners. This is the style of Shim Woong Taik's thinking. To him, the nature is "the world of materials." It means that his mentality still prefers analogical method and recognizes the existence of different route.

III.

A different road : we always look for it. Or rather we give up after searching for a while and peek into somebody else's road, wishing it to be my own. What do you feel when you hear the explicit outcry announcing the end of analogic way of thinking? What do you feel when even you become inclined to ridicule something analogic as too old fashioned ? We cannot just insist in old values, but the new world seems a bit too much to digest. At this time, solitude is the luxury of the strong. The rule of domination is still intact. Under such circumstances, it is really a "dream" to speculate on the world with paintings. Shim Woong Taik is a "dreaming plant." A dream creeps over the wall of reality, as if a vine gropes in the concealed back of cogitation. "I wanted to do drawing, but I ended up painting," he said, as if longing for the speculation of lines. Lines devide and direct, and at the same time, unveil. Escape from concealment ! An escape can be this beautiful. An intent to break loose from what is hidden. The sense of coolness when a line is drawn with a razor. The shade of lines be came a surface. A song sung is the shade, its sound is a language. Of course there are no lyrics.

IV.

We can learn without hearing. But, we cannot learn if we do not see either. Even when we see, we do not learn too many times. The paintings of Shim Woong Taek are a reflection of beauties of things that are not perfect, nor eternal, nor complete. If you see only the images of brooks, pollens or spores, you miss his songs and you are ignoring his cogitation. It is absurd as well to contrarily prognosticate that his real thoughts are oriented to infinity because his images have tendency of finiteness. What in the world is he singing about ? Is hi singing about a thought on emotion? Sensitivity communicates with the world, but is does not think. Thoughts ponder on the world, but they are not subtle. They are neither funny nor aesthetic. Shim Woong Taik's aesthetical thoughts are subtle, because they are stylish on the one hand and serious and profound on the other. They are twins with irresolute tact and old-fashioned attitude. Maybe that is why "spiritual attitude" is emphasized in the Northeast Asia. Many people express worries. But to the younger generation these worries are just gibberish. To those who can listen, however, they themselves carry meanings. Shim Woong Taek thus traverses the axis of Northeast Asian aesthetics.

심웅택 (Woong-Taik, Shim)

중앙대학교 예술대학 회화과 및 동 대학원 졸업

강원대학교 인문대학 철학과 박사과정(미학전공) 졸업

-개인전 20회

중앙미술대전 역대 대상 수상작가 초대전(호암갤러리)

대상 수상작가전 (국립현대 미술관)

현대 미술 북경전 (Space Da, 798)

한-러 작가 교류전 , 한-인도 작가 교류전

화랑미술제, 남송의 봄 전, China Korea Moren Art Fair(798 art center 706 hall),

상하이 Art Fair, 광화문 국제 아트 페스티벌 참가

SHIM, WOONG TAIK

M.F.A. College of Fine Art, Chung-Ang University

Ph. D Kang-Won University

Artwork Storage Space : Hoam Art Hall, Aners B.D.,

Korean Medical Assocition B.D.

Solo Exhibition 20 times

Awarded Grand Prize Jung Ang Grand Exhibition

Invitional Exhibition of Invited Superior Artist (O-Won gallery)

Invitional Exhibition of Grand Prize Artist Jung-ang Fine Art Public Subscription

Tae-Gu International Biennale Art Show

Preview of 150 Famous Artists(Lotte Art Fair)

China Korea Moren Art Fair(798 art center 706 hall)

Guang Hwa Moon International Art Festival

Gong Ju International Art Festival

Sang Hai International Art Fair

General Director Eco-Healing Sun-Yang International Installation Art Festival

Website http://shim.ivyro.net/

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