​Kyoung-Im Park teaches interior design.
kpark@valdosta.edu
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Magnolia​ - 9.5” x 17", watercolor, $200

                                                                                 
​                                                                         Artist Statement
                                                      Flower and Negative space: Beauty of Vitality
 
My painting is personal expression to find the beauty of images and negative space.  It also points out the beauty of vitality in nature and life.  The focus of my painting is to harmonize the intended single image with the negative space. To express the beauty of vitality, I use emotions and moods about particular areas such as the strength of color and light and shadow.  And I also choose the single object and create the black with white background to visualize my painting.  Visualization is more important than symbolization in my painting.

One single object which is a flower is a main element of composition.  And another is the black and white background.  The use of negative space is a key to aesthetic composition of my painting.  The black background is not just the empty black space.  I describe the negative space with balance of black and white and this background composition comes from my intuition and experience. 

The contrast between the bold black background and the figure gives the balance and the synergy effect. The centeredness of the single flower against the empty blackness leads to emphasize not only color contrast but also vivid representation. The flower stands alone in the composition as a bold, independent subject and evokes a sense of strength and resiliency. This contrast complements each other and it maximizes the beauty of vitality at the same time. A view-from-above perspective is influenced by flower photographs. Composing the flower as the viewer is sees it at eye-level submits the viewer into the painting to interact with the flower, rather than merely isolating the audience into observation.
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Even though my painting reflects the beauty of life and vitality, they do not convey any messages or symbolic representations.  I don’t mean to express a critical view of political, social, and cultural issues. Meaning of my painting is committed to audiences. The most import thing is how the audiences feel and communicate with my painting.  

                                                                                                    Bio
Kyoungim Park is an Associate Professor of Interior Design, Department of Art & Design, at Valdosta State University.  She has a M.S. in Interior Design from Florida State University and a M.F.A. and a B.F.A. in Painting from Kyungbook National University.  She is an artist and LEED AP ID +C.  Her artwork is focused on the beauty of vitality.  She is also interested in the sustainable design and the retail design with brand identity.