The Eloquence of Trees

Press Release: 

Ancient Papermaking and Contemporary Movements Combine in New Works by South Korean Artists Choon and Jeong Yun 

(ATLANTA, GA) Artists Jeong Yun and, his wife, Choon Yun have spent the past 20-years perfecting a technique for transforming paper into contemporary masterpieces that move the eye across a textural landscape that seems to replicate the rhythms of nature.  The artist pair use ancient paper making traditions in the creation of their works – large scale canvases, some with energetic movements of color and texture, and others with a whimsical pop-culture reference.  Both artists are featured in a show at Bill Lowe Gallery opening September 9^th aptly titled, “The Eloquence of Trees.”

The Dhak tree, a spiritual symbol indigenous to Southeast Asian, is source material for the Yun’s work.  The barks are peeled and made into pulp in South Korea, before the couple transports the raw product to their studio in Oregon.  There starts a meticulous process to make pulp into paper dyed with the flowers of the Dhak tree.  Jeong Yun is a rising star in the contemporary art world. As he works, Jeong believes his feelings, thoughts and movements are stored in the cellulose of the barks. He says the fibers are his genes and DNA, and that his very self is stored in the paper and “cloned” to his artworks. Through numerous experiments and trials, Jeong has fused Asian and Western papermaking techniques to create delicate and sophisticated images that call the viewer into an intimate connection with his view of the natural world.

Choon Hyang Yun has been working with traditional Asian paper since 1985. Since that time, she has gained international recognition for her ambitious advancement of the medium. Her works redefine the tenants of Asian papermaking by expanding them into monumental scale characterized by strong expressionistic undercurrents. The word “painting” lacks in describing what she creates. Choon is recognized for her mastery of this mesmerizing material – in particular its various textures, and noble and rich colors - to express her abstract and sensual descriptions in art.

The Eloquence of Trees

Works of handmade paper by Jeong Han Yun and Choon Hyang Yun

Opening Reception: Friday, September 9^th, 2011 from 6-9pm

Bill Lowe Gallery

1555 Peachtree Street.  Suite 100. Atlanta, GA 30309