Artist Profile: In Kyoung Chun

By Ellen Samsell Salas

No matter which medium In Kyoung Chun chooses, from oil painting to installation sculptures, her art speaks of everyday life experiences such as family vacations, becoming an “empty nester,” or the comfort of a cup of steaming coffee. Whether it is a metal gateway lit with neon lights, the combination of abstract and figurative elements in an oil painting, or an explosion of watercolor on a canvas, Chun creates harmony, peace, and even whimsy.

A native of South Korea, Chun has pursued the call to art she first felt as a child. While she detoured to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology and raise a family, she continued to follow her dream. Now with an MFA in drawing and painting from Georgia State University, she is a resident artist at Atlanta Contemporary, exhibits extensively, and explores diverse artistic avenues.

Composed of triangles sitting atop rectangles, Chun’s plexiglass houses, whether large or small, evoke the sense of home. Childlike in their simple design and minimal palettes, the houses play on the motif of home seen in much of Chun’s art. Their clear walls invite the viewer inside to see a sketch of a family seated on a bench, a watercolor of a birthday cake, or dining table.

“My houses are positive energy; it’s about protection as well as vulnerability,” Chun said.

Fascinated by the ability to endow a flat surface with many meanings, Chun says her first love remains drawing and painting. In her abstract works, an array of colors, shapes, and textures create balance and meaning. In others, negative space allows figurative objects to draw the viewer’s eye, such as a small tote bag paired with a bright yellow umbrella that pops from a white beach and awakens memories.

Beginning each painting with an image and a color palette in mind, she might first apply a light pastel base, sketch some figures in pencil, then allow the work to develop organically. Some canvases burst with flowers and houses, others combine the abstract and figurative to achieve Chun’s keen sense of balance and coherence.

“When I paint, my plan changes,” said Chun. “I have to change, as the painting evolves. Sometimes, my work process is very spontaneous and requires a different methodology.”

Chun does not paint to direct the viewer’s responses but follows her instincts to create a stimulating visual experience.

“The audience is unpredictable,” she said. “Their response is impossible to control, so I would rather focus on what makes me confident about finishing something and my own sense that the work is OK. If I feel confident and good about my painting, I realize that people react positively.”

The viewer is drawn to the artist’s ability to create meaning. Some forms are easily recognizable; others are open to interpretation. Yet in each piece, individual forms come together to create a harmonious composition or scene.

“I’m just doing my part,” Chun said. “The audience translates.”

For more information about Chun or to view additional works, visit InKyoungChoiChun.com or @inkyoungc on Instagram.