Artist Journal
Kyungmin Park – South Korea
The facial expressions of Kyungmin Park’s (*1985) figures are characterized by dramatic tension. Their vivacious postures resemble those of anime characters, yet even in their stillness, their joy, anger, grief and happiness are deeply contagious. Park humorously and cheerfully conveys their stories and emotions to the viewers. In Meltdown, for example, the heads of three girls, ingeniously combined with panda-like ears and dark circles around their eyes, press against each other, melting and contorting like scoops of ice cream. In Frustration, some of the girls frown and scream, others purse their lips, while some cover their ears and shout in accusation.
Ronit Baranga – Israel
Anyone who encounters Ronit Baranga’s (*1973) works is deeply impressed by them. The artist is not concerned with the usability of the vessels, nor with how pleasing and functional they are. The basic shapes of everyday vessels or dishware are not her subjects. She uses plates, bowls or cups merely as a medium. Upon closer inspection, fingers emerge from within them, holding an open mouth with lips and a slightly protruding tongue. A woman is surrounded by precariously piled porcelain tableware that nearly topples over. Inside the cups are mouths with protruding tongues, while crawling fingers appear at their bottoms. The terrifying sight challenges the viewer’s visual perception.
(Ting-Ju SHAO)