Painter Sung Mi Yoo, a member of the New York Korean Evangelical Association (part of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification), had her paintings exhibited at the Invitational Show of Four Women Artists, which took place at the Nahrah Gallery in Fort Lee, New Jersey, from June 11 to 26. Sponsored by the Seoul National University Alumni USA, this exhibition included artwork by four women painters who were especially chosen by the Korean daily New York Joong Ang Ilbo. Mr. Gwang Hyun Kim, a representative of the Nahrah Gallery, expressed his respect toward the artists who, through their determination and hard work, have firmly established themselves in the art world. Mr. Kim reflected that he is overjoyed to put on display these artists’ work, which he described as “precious as jewels and clear as crystals.” He noted that it is a significant accomplishment for a foreigner to succeed as an artist in New York City.
Ms. Yoo is known to be a realist painter who paints wildflowers. In the visible scenery of her paintings, the wind is blowing and the artist’s mind is expressed. Though Ms. Yoo used to be known in painting circles mainly for her considerable talent in abstract drawings and portraits, later she realized that her true path as an artist is to be a realist painter. She explains, “I feel that there is an inherent value of existence even within a clump of unconscious wildflowers. Everything that is visible has its own value, and artists should discover the inherent value and creative order of what they are going to draw.”
A reviewer for the New York Joong Ang Ilbo said that Sung Mi Yoo “has an unsophisticated artistic vision. And she is personal. In the field of modern art, many people compete with their rough and loud ideologies and claims to see whose voice is the loudest, but I hope she can remain a painter who expresses the inspiration she feels.”
Written by Rev. Silas Bang and translated by Tossa Cromwell |
