Récurrence 2005

Kim Tschang-yeul made "Recurrence," layering meaning through process. The painting invites contemplation through its considered mark-making, which has become an integral part of his artistic identity. Look at the surface: it's textural, almost like a woven fabric. There are characters there, but they don't seem to be telling a linear story, it's more like a dance of forms, with the drips, like suspended moments, catching and reflecting light. The way the droplets are rendered, so meticulously, each one like a tiny gem against the matte background, creates a push and pull between representation and abstraction. The shadows cast by the water droplets make the work appear almost three-dimensional, a trompe-l'oeil that invites closer inspection and begs questions about illusion and reality. The way Tschang-yeul returns to the same motif over and over again, it reminds me of Agnes Martin’s grids. Both artists explore repetition, but Tschang-yeul seems more playful. Art, like life, is full of recurrence, and it's up to us to find the beauty in it.