Clouds Series
Reinterpretation of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo & John Constable’s works
I often see myself as clouds that hover in the air. With my identity as a foreigner to many countries I have lived in, I have had difficult times figuring out where my “home” is. Clouds do not have any roots or destinations, and it continues to travel. I wanted to convey my identity through this series of abstract clouds. During the process, I looked into Tiepolo’s ceiling paintings that make you believe that you are looking into heaven that is cut open on the ceiling. James Turrel creates contemporary open ceiling installations to make people appreciate the sky. I looked mainly into John Constable’s brushstrokes from his cloud studies and moved onto my own interpretation with abstract brushstrokes. Not only do these clouds have a strong link with me, but also give the viewers a chance to appreciate the beauty of nature. How often does one take time to look up and enjoy the colors of the sky? Through these paintings, one can enjoy the pure tones and brushstrokes of the clouds interacting with one another.
Clouds Triptych III, 2022
commission work, oil on canvas, 55 x 55cm each
Clouds Triptych II, 2021
commission work, acrylic on canvas, 55 x 55cm each
Clouds VI, 2021
Oil on canvas, 98 x 150 cm
Clouds V, 2020
Oil on canvas, 58 x 84 cm
Clouds IV, 2020
Oil on canvas, 58 x 84 cm
Clouds Triptych, 2020
Commission work, oil on canvas, 46 x 56 cm each
Constable Studies, 2020
Oil on canvas, 120 x 160 cm
「I get baffled when a formal document requires me to write my home address. Moving several times – not only from a city to another, but from one country to the other – makes me get stuck on the “Address 1” section. It’s not because I don’t remember how to translate my Korean home address, but because I can’t answer the question – which home do I write?
…
I get to see the clouds’ full transformation cycle whenever I fly for a long time – the misty nimbus turning from purple to orange in the morning, bright yellow in the afternoon, and teal blue in the evening. Although there isn’t a deep root that ties me down to the land of one country, I belong to the clouds that float in the air that can change its form – from a puddle of water on a grey day to a thick layer blocking the bright sun – and move from one place to another.
Cloud (n.) \klaʊd\
: a visible group of particles that wander about the air aimlessly without a definite form or size that usually welcomes other similar particles; has the ability to hide others’ presence with its opacity; may clash with other misty particles to make loud noises and give fear to humans; can satisfy people with its charm and beauty while moving constantly.」
-Belonging to the Clouds, 2016
Clouds I, fall 2019
oil on canvas, 120x150cm
Clouds II, fall 2019
oil on canvas, 120x150cm
Clouds III, fall 2019
oil on canvas, 120x150cm
