meet 김덕용

Artist: 김덕용 Kim Duck Yong

For viewing: Gallery Hyundai Gangnam - 20 April till 15 May

I came across 김덕용's (Kim Duck Yong) art while browsing Found Mag online. I was instantly captivated. Certainly, my bias for Audrey Kawasaki is at work here. (Have you caught on their obvious similarity?)The wood Kawasaki works with is usually polished and smooth. Kim however, intentionally applies the grainy and unique textures of old wood in his paintings. The imperfections of the wood and the sensitive captures of humble Korean folks in his painting evoke deep nostalgia and wonder. The grainy texture becomes the lady's skin, the roughness of the wood becomes her silk hanbok. Yet, the maturity of the wood does not deny her beauty thus Kim has effectively captured the meaning of timelessness in his composition. Through the women in his paintings, he expresses Korean beauty in its simplicity and consistency despite the passing of time. This is perhaps one of the biggest factors for the transcendence we feel when gazing upon his art. Collectively, his paintings tell a story. They are his sensitive snapshots of his visits to hanoks (traditional Korean houses), of modest village folk and animals, where Kim delves deep into his native roots. Individually, I cannot help but marvel at the sheer content each silent character in his artwork seem to be telling me. The children's features are plain yet their expressions linger in my mind, provoking an emotional reflection. It is very likely that I will visit Hyundai Gallery when I am in Seoul this May. I would love to study more closely and discover what the 2D displays on my computer screen have failed to convey. 

Kim Duck Yong's paintings breathe insight to the fleetingness of time and the many simple pleasures in life we have come to lose sight of. They remind us once again to hold true to our roots and to mature as these sturdy old wood have.