Untitled 2001

This ‘Untitled’ piece was made by Moon Pil Shim with paint, though I can’t tell you exactly when. What I see is a deep, almost obsessive process in the making of this work. The painting has a pale wood frame, which holds a very particular shade of red, the color of lipstick or cherries. The paint is applied in horizontal lines, built up, one on top of the other. These lines aren't perfectly smooth, but slightly wobbly, giving the surface a kind of shimmering texture. Each stroke is a little bit imperfect and you can see where the brush started and stopped. These details really invite you to consider the physical act of painting. Up close, the texture has the feel of fabric, and I am reminded of Agnes Martin. What I love about abstract art like this is how it invites us to slow down and really look, without any expectations of what we’re supposed to see. It’s a quiet, meditative piece and the meaning is never fixed.