Riots of constellations and galaxies
Ryu's canvases about 70 in all, are replete with burning bright colours such as blue, yellow, red, green, white and their mixtures and shades. And the colours mainly occupy the background to the dreamlike images of her subjects. Often the subjects do also bear blazing colours.
Ryu's style of painting is the depiction of her subjects--mostly still life--surrounded by composition of galaxies and constellations. These constellations mostly depict dandelion seeds carried away by the wind, often merged with the vast canvas of countless stars. It is obvious that Ryu has had her own fascination for the mysterious, destined-to-the-unknown journey of the dandelion seeds. In fact, she presents a series of works on this subject in the exhibition. There are some other series of works named Meditation, House, A prayer, Reborn, Sundarban, The Rose of Sharon and the titular Limited Time.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The Rose of Sharon series connotes a biblical association that depicts Ryu's Christian faith. For the title reminds one of the verses 'I am the rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the valley from the Song of Solomon 2:1'. Although according to religious historian Dr. William Smith, the Rose of Sharon is generally believed to be the sweet-scented Narcissus, a flower native to Palestine, in Ryu's painting the flowers are hibiscus. Another painting named Message also depicts Jesus Christ.
The composition in Ryu's works is rather surrealistic, although her depiction of very ordinary objects like flowers, crop fields, flower vases, household objects is quite realistic. In some cases, she is even romantic too. And what is soothing to the viewers' eyes is her skilled balance of colours and space, her objects and their background.
As long as medium is concerned, Ryu uses a powdery mixture of stone and colours, and she paints on paper. In a few works she has used typica paper. Often she paints on the ladies' hand-fans and then puts them on the main canvases. The style is surely unique of this Korean artist.
The exhibition is open till February 28 from 11 am to 7 pm daily except on Fridays which is from 3 pm to 7 pm .