Chung Hae Sook
Chung Hae Sook,
Song of the Truth Seeker
There is an interesting story in John Steinbeck’s book titled ‘The Log from the Sea of Cortez,’ a narrative by John Steinbeck and scientific appendix by marine biologist Edward Ricketts. In this book, Steinbeck, while searching around the tidal pool in sunset, is asked by an old fisherman what he is looking for.
Steinbeck replies, "We search for something that will seem like the truth to us…we search for that principle which keys us deeply into the pattern of all life; we search for the relation of things, one to another..."
These words show that, to Steinbeck, art is not a mere pastime but a journey towards the truth. And we call people like him ‘Seekers.’
An Overwhelmingly Inspiring Performance
Like Steinbeck, Chung Hae Sook is an artist who seeks for the truth. She has long been asking questions and searching for answers on what is truthful and how should one live one’s life. Such has been manifested time and again through her solo exhibitions.
We can see her stance as a Seeker becoming more apparent through her solo exhibition held in 2002 at the Insa Gallery and another held in 2005 at the Insa Art Center. (Jonathan Edwards saw ‘Seeker’ as a ‘Soul in search of Jesus Christ’).
Her works displayed during solo exhibitions that followed - the ones held at the CJ Gallery (2006), the Insa Art Center (2006), the Russia Artists Confederation Gallery (2007), the Seoul Museum (2008), and the Milal Art Museum (2012) were consistently densely textured oil paintings to show high purity in transparency.
Such style is still maintained in the works to appear in her upcoming solo exhibit - succinct and understated forms and colors coming together to set the tone for the Seeker. But once you take a closer look, you’ll find that there are differences. This exhibit is more closely linked to the stories in the Bible, though, at first glance, the paintings may seem to have adopted landscape elements.
<Healing-Bethesda> depicts Jesus healing the man who had been an invalid for 38 years at the Bethesda Pool, while <Sea of Blessing> is based on the scene where Simon Peter, following his faith, casts the net down the deep end of the pool. <Peter’s Net> is when Peter’s net, surrounded by birds, catches large fish. <Island of Salvation> shows the scene where Apostle Paul goes through a shipwreck while being transported to a prison in Rome and is rescued by the islanders of Malta. <Sign> is based on the story of Jesus Christ turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana. <5 loaves and 2 fish> is based on the scene where Jesus feeds the famished with wine and bread, just as the Heavenly Father had given Manna and quail. The areas where the canvas is scratched and scarred, or the parts that depict drops of water, symbolize the compassion and the hardship that Jesus had to endure through, the Artist says.
It is common for artists, when choosing themes from the Bible, to hesitate between simple reproduction and reinvention. However, Chung Hae Sook, well aware of the limits of mechanical reproduction, transforms the canvas into a performance brimming with inspiration, using her God-given creativity and imagination. Her ability to turn the narratives from the Bible into visual images proves her caliber, while it is worthy to note that she is also capable of catering to modern taste. She adds color to the stories from the Gospel without betraying its spirit. It certainly does not do justice to her works to say that all religious paintings are a cliché.
<Tree of Life> is based on the tree that appears in the Garden of Eden. In this painting stands a massive tree in the middle, but what catches our attention are the numerous surrounding images.
Though the painting is centered on the Tree of Life without doubt, the Artist accompanies many images to tell a multilayered story. For example, the fruit hanging from the tree symbolizes the 9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5) while the tree trunk is Jacob’s ladder leading to Heaven. At the bottom we can see the river that flows (Psalms 1:3) and the fertile land that helps the tree to bear fruit when season comes.
On the top is where the curtain parts and bright lights shine, while birds that symbolize the Holy Ghost soar high. Just looking at the painting gives you a fresh feeling like no other, and I wonder if such is as the Artist had intended. She has sublimated a story from the Bible to the world of visual arts to best connect with her audience.
The highlights of her solo exhibition, the <Sea of Salvation> and <Sea of Healing> best exemplify her style and her intentions. These two paintings epitomize her consistent style where she creates visual effects through countless colored space. The overlapping colors give birth to innate rhythm and meditative space. Surely this cannot happen overnight - the overlaps are created through many hours of meticulous planning. It is common for artists who sparingly use geometrical shapes and spaces to get stuck in order and rules and lose that free spirit. But Chung Hae Sook proves us otherwise by dodging such pitfalls and achieving spontaneity.
This is the unique charm of her paintings. How she can accomplish this, I believe, can only be explained when we see what she is ultimately striving for.
<Sea of Salvation> and <Sea of Healing> are both similar in structure and visuals. Inside a massive circle the ocean glistens like chandelier, and there floats a mysterious island with large birds flapping their wings vigorously above. The bird symbolizes the Spirit of the God, promising us that He will be by our side and lead us to Heaven in times of turbulent tides. The painting is focused not on life out in the wilderness but on God’s love that consoles us, heals and saves us. And this is why her works give off a promising and positive vibe. Such is well reflected in her notes.
“The mentally projected space within my work is where hopes of the soul is signified. I have put into my work my hopes of enduring through it all in in the presence of the loving Lord who leads the way so that we may march with vigor towards Heaven.” (from the Artist’s note)
We can tell from her words that she hopes to become the “Messenger of Heaven” in God’s blessing by giving hope, consolation and healing to those who come across her paintings.
Fountain of Peace
Miraculously, in Chung Hae Sook’s paintings we catch a glimpse of the direction. The lost souls are oblivious to the fact that they are lost, thus being in such state has become a natural part of this world. But Chung Hae Sook reassures us that the road still exists, and beckons us to get back on track. This is where she resembles the Seeker in Steinbeck’s book. It is as if she is reminding us, that to live a truthful life, we should not deny nor give up but that we need to keep searching for the road unseen. And she has volunteered herself to serve as the guide to the right path. The path to the Fountain of Peace.
2015.9. 14
Seo Seong Rok (Professor of Fine Art, Andong National University)
English Translation by Jung Yeon Cho