Please join us for the opening reception of Eastern Echoes, an exhibition of works by Korean American Diaspora artist Myungsook Ryu Kim. Educated in the fine arts in both the United States and the Republic of Korea, Kim's work effectively blurs the line between purely Eastern and Western styles, taking elements and cues from both. She works in the mediums of acrylics and traditional Korean ink painted on canvas, traditional Korean Hanji paper, and carved wood blocks, adding a multidimensional, multicultural quality complimented by sculpture and installation art. At the foundation of Kim's work is the study of muninhwa (문인화), a traditional Korean art style that pairs minimalist painting with calligraphic poetry.

 

"In my work, I look for ways to transfer traditional East Asian art forms onto the Western canvas, creating a juxtaposition of East and West. The Asian theme of nature, including earth, heaven, flowers, and ancient Chinese characters are the 'vocabulary' of my work. The abstract images and forms embody complex layers of the spiritual and emotional, a living energy that is a strong focus of Korean artists." - Myungsook Ryu Kim

 

The opening reception will include a guided gallery talk by Myungsook Ryu Kim, a presentation by Jung-Sil Lee, Adjunct Professor at the Corcoran College of Art & Design, and a special violin and piano performance by Sayuri Yano Kim Hyun-hee. This exhibition will remain on display through October 12, 2011.