young joo choi - portfolio

My daughter, born in 1996, made me release everything. Mentally and physcally, I was capable only of watching life around me. The universe opened its eyes, the uni-verse ate, and the universe moved. Marvel halted my thoughts; the space and time became a dot of the universe. It became the universe itself. Every moment was a work of art.

This must be how mothers of the world do art.... It is so grand and marvelous that it can’t be displayed in a museum! Because the image of holding a baby is a work of art that touches the universe, as if God’s work can not be displayed....

My baby and I lay on the canvas spread on the floor, rolling around, drew our story and the universe that we thought too seriously of.

- 1998

In order to live, I throw myself away

I wish for my thoughts to be pure by dismissing my thoughts and obsessions,

and my eyes, ears and body to be free by dismissing images, scents, feelings and habits from myself.

I want to see everything as its essential self,

without judgement or criticism by dismissing it all.

I want to see the world with pure eyes, and

hear the sounds of the world with cleansed ears.

I want to see the world without prejudice.

Until all life becomes me, and we become one,

I empty myself,

so I can paint this beautiful world as it is.

- 2010

I am in Somin.

Along with you I play.

You draw a line.

I add flowers, grasses, and stars.

Drawing universe, I go there.

We are in the universe.

Universe is in us.

Universe is you.

I am you.

- 1998

Untitled 10” x 11” x 4” 2008

Wooju 1001 92” x 174” Acrylic on Canvas 2010

Wooju 010192” x 174” Mixed Media2001

Somin 010192” x 210”Mixed Media2001

Wooju 0102 68” x 90” Mixed Media 2001

Wooju 990299” x 92”Mixed Media1999

Wooju 000192” x 95”

Mixed Media2000

Wooju 000260” x 139”Mixed Media 2000

Wooju 000360” x 125”Mixed Media2000

Wooju 000460” x 135”

Mixed Media2000

Wooju 0007 Mixed Media 2000

Wooju 000860” x 119”

Mixed Media2000

Winged 0101 Mixed Media 2000

Somin 980191” x 64”Mixed Media1998

Somin 0101 48” x 54” Mixed Media 2001

Somin 0102 92” x 210” Mixed Media 2001

Wooju 1010 59” x 80” Mixed Media

Wooju 0951 9.5” x 12” Acrylic Paper on Canvas 2009

Untitled 10” x 18” x 1.5” Mixed Media 1998

Somin 9951 5.5” x 7.5” x 1” Mixed Media 1999Somin 9952 5.5” x 7.5” x 1” Mixed Media 1999

Somin 9954 10” x 8.5” x 1” Mixed Media 1999


Somin 9965 7” x 5” x 1” Mixed Media 1999Somin 9967 7” x 5” x 1” Mixed Media 1999

Somin 9959 10” x 8.5” x 1” Mixed MediaSomin 9961 10” x 8.5” x 1” Mixed Media

Somin 9962 9.5” x 12.5” x 1” Mixed MediaSomin 9964 10” x 8.5” x 1” Mixed Media

Somin 9958 10” x 8.5” x 1” Mixed Media Somin 9957 10” x 8.5” x 1” Mixed Media

Somin 9975 10” x 8.5” x 1” Mixed Media Somin 9976 10” x 8.5” x 1” Mixed Media

Somin 9966 7” x 5” x 1” Mixed Media Somin 9968 7” x 5” x 1” Mixed Media Somin 9969 7” x 5” x 1” Mixed Media

Somin 9970 7” x 5” x 1” Mixed Media Somin 9971 7” x 5” x 1” Mixed Media

Somin 99501 9” x 12.5” Mixed Media

Somin 9973 Mixed Media

Somin 99502 14” x 17” Mixed Media Somin 99505 14” x 17” Mixed Media

Somin 99506 14” x 17” Mixed MediaSomin 99504 14” x 17” Mixed Media

Somin 9950314” x 17”Mixed Media

Somin 9950614” x 17”Mixed Media

Untitled 10” x 11” Mixed Media 1994

Untitled 13” x 10.5” Mixed Media 1994

My reflection in light runs into infinityas a star travels through time and space to reach my eyes.Its flight Witnesses the birth and youth of starsand recaptures the previous moments long ago departed:me and my surroundings,the little hands of my child,the movement of his fingers,his first steps,white laundry fluttering in the wind,the streets where I wandered,the trees and the flowers I passed,and the ones that I dearly loved.

In my painting the reflection of the things passedand the reality of my presentappear side by side in the frozen image of time,because I stand there forever travellingwith the flight of the passing moments.I know I am always a ray in the flood of light,for everything and all things in my life stays with me.

Remembering all the moments cherishedand all the moments forgottenart together immersed in this universe,I long for a life well-lived in harmony and luminosity.I and the tales of my life,unfolding in present momentsforever travel into infinity of space.

-1989

Space Time 9501 92” x 225” Acrylic on Canvas 1995

Space Time 9401 92” x 228” Acrylic on Canvas 1994

Shadow of Time 9017 30” x 60” Mixed Media 1990

Space Time 9206 73” x 50” Acrylic and Resin on Canvas 1992

Space Time 920570” x 60”

Mixed Media 1992

Space Time 900460” x 144”Acrylic and Collage on Canvas1990

Shadow of Time 910172” x 120”

Acrylic on Canvas1991

Shadow of Time 8901 80” x 117” Mixed Media 1989

The Light Calls Light Within Light 92” x 175” 1989 Mixed Media on Canvas

Space Time 9001 60” x 144” Acrylic and Collage on Canvas 1990

Shadow of Time 9104 72” x 120” Acrylic on Canvas 1991

Untitled93” x 225”Mixed Media1996

Shadow of Time 9105 93” x 215” Acrylic and Collage on Canvas 1991

Untitled 60” x 135” Acrylic and Collage on Canvas 1991

Space Time 901660” x 140”Acrylic and Collage on Canvas1990

Shadow of Time 891030” x 24”Acrylic and Collage on Canvas1989

Space Time 890660” x 48”

Acrylic and Resin on Canvas1990

Untitled13” x 20”Acrylic on Canvas1980

Untitled13” x 20”


Untitled16” x 13”Acrylic on Canvas1980

Untitled 13” x 16” Acrylic on Canvas 1980


Stone Powder on Rice Paper1980

Shadow of Time 831530” x 20”Stone Powder on Rice Paper1983

Shadow of Time 771735” x 23”


Earth Poppy18” x 36”


Roses57 x 79 cmStone Powder on Rice Paper1978

Candle Light62 x 122cm


Shadow of Time 8316 19” x 19” Stone Powder on Rice Paper 1983

Shadow of Time 8119 18” x 28” Stone Powder on Rice Paper 1981

Women43” x 83”Stone Powder on Rice Paper1980

Weeds46 x 53 cm


Wild Poppy30” x 19.5”


Stone Butterfly18” x 18”Stone Powder on Rice Paper1978

Glen80 x 120cmStone Powder on Rice Paper1977

Poppies58 x 90 cm


Untitled 40” x 50” Stone Powder on Rice Paper 1973

SOLO EXHIBITION2011 Dosan Hall Art Gallery Los Angeles, California2006 “State of Being” The Fieldman-Horn Gallery Los Angeles, California2005 Ruby Falls Gallery New York, New York2005 Jung Dong Art Hall Los Angeles, California1997 Museum of Art Down Town of Los Angeles Los Angeles, California1996 The Art Bank- L.A. Core Los Angeles, California1995 L.A. Art Core/ Brewery Annex Los Angeles, California1995 Desmond Gallery Los Angeles, California1994 Haenah Kent Gallery New York, New York1994 Sabina Gallery Los Angeles California1993 Kum-Ho Museum of Art Seoul, Korea 1992 Do-In GallerySeoul, Korea1991 L.A. Art CoreLos Angeles, California1989 L.A. Art CoreLos Angeles, California1989 Kown-Hoon GallerySeoul, Korea1983 Sameel fine Art GalleryLos Angeles, California1981 Growrich GallerySeoul, Korea

GROUP EXHIBITION2011 “Be One”, Tompkins Square Library GalleryNew York, New York2010 “With Art With Artist”, Hancock Art MuseumLong Beach, California2010 The 12th Annual Exhibition of Hong-Ik Alumni, Assy GalleryLos Angeles, California2009 “An Exhibition with Seventeen Korean-American Artists in South California, West-ern GalleryLos Angeles, California2009 “Connection”, Korean Cultural CenterToronto, Canada2008 “Connection 2008”, Korean Cultural CenterLos Angeles, California2007 Korean Artist Show, Korean Culture CenterLos Angeles, California2006 “Connection 2006”, Korean Cultural CenterLos Angeles, California2006 Exodus-1, Gallery Blue WaveLos Angeles, California2005 The 7th Annual Exhibition of Hong-Ik Alumni, Do San HallLos Angeles, California2003 The 5th Annual Exhibition of Hong-Ik Alumni, Do San HallLos Angeles, California2002 The 4th Annual Exhibition of Hong-Ik Alumni, Modern Art GalleryLos Angeles, California2002 Seoul Auction, Korean Artist AmericaKorea2001 “Two Peninsulas”, Angelsgate Cultural CenterSan Pedro, California2000 Spiritual Practices: “Rituals, Icons & Faiths”, Korean American MuseumLos Angeles, California1997 “Conceptual Evolution”, Museum of ArtDowntown of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California1997 Notes From East, Museum of Art Down Town of Los AngelesLos Angeles, California1996 “Divergent Similarities” Lower Gallery- Occidental CollegeLos angeles, California 1995 XXIX Prix International D’Art Contemporain De Monte-Carlo, Monaco1995 Table of contents, Desmond Gallery Los Angeles, California

1995 Art Bank, L.A.Artcore Los Angeles , California 1994 “Angels, Ancestors, and Spirit Guides”, Mythos Gallery Burbank, California1994 “MEET” 5 Persons Show, Paris Korean Culture Center Paris, France1993 Absolut Vodka Hope Sharon Truax Fine Gallery Venice, California1993 “Absolut Hope” Billboard Sunset & Crescent Heights Boulevards, California1992 Caught Between the Sheet: A Multimedia Event, City of Los Angeles Cultural Af-fairs Department, Los Angeles Photography Center Los Angeles, California1992 Energy: Interaction of Contrast, South Bay Contemporary Museum of Art Torrance, California1992 Energy: Interaction of Contrast, Los Angeles Art Core Los Angeles, California1991 Two Person Show, Los Angeles Art Core Los Angeles, California1991 The Exhibition of Korean Artists in America, Kum-Ho Museum of Art Seoul, Korea1991 The Echibition of Korean Artists in America, Andrew Shire Gallery Los Angeles, California1991 Contemporanea De Corea, Museo De Arte Moderno Cuidad De, Mexico1991 The Exhibition of Korean Artists in America, Andrew Shire Gallery California1990 Asian- American Artist Los Angeles Festival, Korean Culture Center of Los Angeles Los Angeles, California 1990 Seven Person Show, Guild of American Directors Los Angeles, California1989 Three- Person Show, Los Angeles Artcore Gallery Los Angeles, California1985 Korean American Artists, Gallery Scope Los Angeles, California1984 Asian American Artists,Gallery Scope Los Angeles, California1978-81 Annual Exhibition of Group Choon-Chu Seoul, Korea 1977 “Choon Chu” Lotte Gallery Seoul, Korea1976 “2nd Annual Choon Chu” ShinSaeGai Gallery Seoul, Korea

EDUCATIONHong-Ik University, College of Fine Arts- BFASeoul, Korea

AWARDS1975 The 23rd National Exhibition of Korea1974 The 22nd National Exhibition of Korea

MEMBERSHIPLos Angeles Artcore GalleryKorean Artists Association of California

young joo choi - portfolio

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