Untitled 2001

These six colourful, square panels, are the work of Moon Pil Shim, but I don't know when they were made or with what. I feel like I can see the artist at work in the studio, lost in the repetitive motion of applying these thin, horizontal lines. The surface has an almost woven texture, and the density and opacity of the paint create a sense of depth, as if you could reach into the colour. The colour palette, bold and vibrant, almost hums with energy, and I wonder if they are made with many layers. Look closely at the way each horizontal mark is laid down, ever so slightly, on top of each other. There’s a meditative quality to this piece, reminiscent of Agnes Martin, or even the colour field paintings of Mark Rothko, but here, there’s something about the handmade quality, the imperfections, that feels deeply personal. This piece shows us how art invites us to pause, reflect, and find meaning in the abstract and in the everyday.