Exhibition Introduction 2024

 

ENG ∣ KOR

 

 

'Encounter, Two Visions'

 

 

Shin Hee Won (Gallery Doll  Curator)

 

In the paintings of Cho Eun Joung, objects emerge within scenes anchored in nature, interwoven with architectural elements and figures. Through symbolic metaphors, these objects narrate stories that unfold like a novel, crafted from the artist’s subjective perspective. Rather than blending discordantly, they harmonize within the canvas, yet their interplay remains subtly enigmatic, connecting in unexpected and fictional ways. Like visual tricks not easily deciphered at first glance, her work invites encounters that surprise from every angle. Objects across her scenes seem to seek coherence, whether viewed from afar or up close, as they engage in situational dialogues. Recently, the artist has shifted from portraying bursting or cascading movements to emphasizing forms grounded within the canvas, where stillness prevails. Amid the undulating waves lies a sandcastle, and a diver in a lake hints at a direction, leaving only a trace of movement. The coexistence of day and night, reminiscent of Magritte’s <The Empire of Light>, returns as a breeze of imagination, blending daily life and memory into a sensory experience. The longer the scene, the more objects gather within, enriching the narrative yet withholding causes or direct consequences. Representation unfolds here with a subtle twist on reality, presenting a consistency in the balance she seeks to convey. The atmosphere shifts, quelling and returning to calm, embracing equilibrium without the shadows of trauma. Her work distills feelings that linger unexplained, bringing together objects that reveal her unique perspective on the world.

 

In her artistic journey, underlying anxiety persists—intertwining fear, tension, and unfamiliarity, each embodied by objects on the canvas. As part of life’s journey, these emotions are temporarily overcome, only to resurface upon encountering something new. She reflects on the self, examining reality objectively, contemplating how unfulfilled desires may evolve into anxieties. Her work tells both her own story and a broader narrative about human relationships, revealing the interconnectedness of individuals within a larger society. Her objects evoke situations unforeseen, often catching viewers off-guard. Quietly, she tempers her emotions, observing the space around her. The unconscious revelations in her work hint at freedom from societal restrictions, where reason, beliefs, and desires coalesce to form collective structures that can obscure individual place within society. How, then, should one live in such a world? This question deepens her reflection. When the mist lifts, perhaps clarity will emerge. The dreamer reappears as a diver, never pausing on the journey through life. Someone once called life a “sea of suffering,” and despite everything, it is the flow of unpredictable time that offers strength to endure. With hope set on an uncertain future, her art immerses viewers in vivid, ornamental realms that calm the inner spirit. Her paintings serve as a subtle persuasion, portraying life as an inescapable destiny for humankind—an acceptance of reality itself.