Untitled 2002

Moon Pil Shim made this untitled piece sometime during their career, using a variety of materials within wooden frames. The rhythmic lines and tonal range in the piece are so evocative; they show an understanding of how a simple palette and repeated mark can be so effective! The lines vary from warm browns to creams and reds, creating a visual hum throughout the three panels. Below the lines is a collection of what looks like bundled strands of the same material, and it’s this part that really pulls me in. The texture and the three-dimensionality of the piece make the abstract feel, well, not so abstract. It has a real presence. The way that the paint is applied and assembled feels tactile and grounded. I'm reminded of Dorothea Tanning's soft sculptures, where surreal forms emerge through material exploration. Both invite us to contemplate the nature of form and matter. Art is, after all, an ongoing conversation.