Hyper-Realism at Work

Painter Lee Suk-joo's unique hyper-realistic landscapes enthrall viewers

Most of all, in order to have a look into the art world of the artist, it would be best suggested to walk through the way the artist has already passed by. When the art concerned and especially art critics would refer to artist Lee Suk-joo's artwork everyone comment upon Lee's series, "The Wall."Because the series of his artwork were completed over the considerable length of time covering from 1978 to 1982. These series of paintings he devotedly created are worth noticing and have drawn a public attention regarding its completeness and artistic value. The importance of the series of his art pieces has doubly been added as they were created by his hype-realistic technique and skill which has prevailed his own art world up to date. Actually, his name, Lee Suk-joo, began to be remembered and talked about among the concerned by his theme of "The Wall"series, and so much the series have been impressive to the people to remember his name.
However, the text of "The Wall"series is so simple rather than complex, showing very simple and crude outlook. The subject matter of wall is an extremely commonplace object in our daily life, but it has been represented by the artist's hyper-realistic technique for a part of wall as really as it is. Referring over its qualitative feeling, the amenity being manifested along the detailed description of the object including small pieces of bricks exposed under the tilted sun beam, which is so impressive to us of reminding a part of the American hyper-realist Andrew Wyeth's part of landscape. Especially, depiction of the shades appeared by the sun beam is a marking feature of his painting regarding its sharpness as well as magnificent effect of contrast.
Among his artistic features being displayed in his painting, the constant factor noticeable from his initial period to up to daste is the artist's marvelous attention and comprehensive power of about 'shade'adopted as a part of his artwork. As in the instance of his representing technique of shade his paintings fundamentally bears a few very intensive features.
As early as in 1981, he had already demonstrated artwork with motif of wall being featured by innumerable shades hung down over the bricks of the wall. His visual angle over the shades such as these cases has thoroughly emphasized on the artistic effects, excluding his personal sentiment. As a matter of fact, when the artist adopted an object, the object has already been infused by emotional factor of the artist. However, during 1970s, hyper-realism was prevailed and adopted by the local art world marking as a vital tendency, and then we have to remember that the main stream of hyper-realism was largely practiced in attaining an increased visual effect based on emphasis of a flashing sensibility or emotional aspects.
It seems that the artwork of Lee Suk-joo also is not apart from this trait. (Also, let us recall the artwork of those artists who also was devoted in hyper-realism then, such as Ji Suk-chul for his cushion works Koh Young-hoon who described stones on the sun and Joo Tae-suk for his objects of railroad,
showing the similar trait of art to that of the artist.) The same content of his hyper-realistic work was already prevailed radically in the United States in the early days, such as photorealism or super realism. This artist stream of surrealism in reaction against abstract expressionism , was derived from the western style of landscapes represented for an American realism or concrete painting.
In our case, already in 1960s, hyper-realism was adopted by the Korean modern artists as a fresh and attractive style of art along with trends of its explosive popularity among artists in the cities such as New York and some n California and the entire European nations, and thereafter we have to pay an attention to the energy of another art style before us.
Because, we cannot overlook the existence of some of Korean artists who already have shown a sing of such a tendency in a group. Taking view over their individual pattern of expression and artistic technique of these artists,
Lee's artwork is noted as a conspicuous figure for its narrative composition and exclusive form of art, though in some aspects his art work is still remaining opaque. Lee's paintings are consisted of a several landscapes. nw

Private Space: 227.3 x 180.8 cm; Oil on Canvas; 2005

Painter Lee Suk-joo

Private Space: 116 x 45.7cm; Oil on Canvas; 2004

Daily Routine: 194 x 254cm; Oil on Canvas; 1985; Ho-Am Art Museum, Yongin

Daily Routine: 112 x 145.5 cm; Oil on Canvas; Private Collection