ook Myoung Yoon creates densely layered, abstract paintings. Her brushstrokes often resemble calligraphy, but it is through patterns rather than words that the artist tells her stories. Yoon creates a sense of space and time through her layering technique which immerses the viewer in her work. She covers the surface of her paintings with strips of rice paper so that some areas are obscured while others remain visible. This creates not only physical depth but a sense of metaphorical space. Yoon views the spaces she creates as the “space of her sub-consciousness.” In addition, the layering serves to evoke a sense of memory obscured by time. The artist states, “By repeating this process, I take images of my past and lay them on my work space.” This strategy is also designed to leave some things unrevealed, inviting the viewer to use his or her imagination. Yoon believes that this approach lends more excitement and intrigue to the work than simply presenting “naked reality.” It is from her own imagination and memories that the artist draws most of her inspiration, allowing sub-conscious processes to guide her as she works. Yoon says, “I like to close my eyes and return to my memory. Using time and reflection as a medium ... I weave a journey through my sub-consciousness.” It is this space of memory and time that Yoon strives to capture in her work.

Sook Myoung Yoon studied art in Korea before receiving her M.F.A. from the Pratt Institute in 1994. She has shown extensively in Korea and the United States. This is her second solo exhibition at the George Billis Gallery.