Yun Woo Seung’s motif of painting is the underwater scenery. The title of the work , a compound word of Life and Fish, projects the artist’s hardships in life through fish. The artist does not only portray underwater life, but also a story of one’s life. Yun Woo Seung's underwater scenery makes one imagine themselves as a diver navigating and observing silver fish in the sea.
The process of painting the depth is generally divided into two categories. One is the process of painting the shape of the fish and the other is creating the particular texture of the surface. First, the artist practices a distinguished technique where he paints the fish like a floating buoy. He repeats the process of drawing a fish and covering it with a finishing spray. The repetition of the process makes an illusion where some fish look like they are swimming in the distance or up close.
After finishing the painting work, the artist practices various methods to improve the smoothness and preservation of the surface of the painting. He coats the surface with traditional lacquer, otchil, which is a transparent sap obtained from the lacquer tree. Then, he uses a polishing material and sands down the surface with extra fine sandpaper and water to further enhance the glossiness.
In the past, Yun Woo Seung’s artwork has focused on drawing countless Lifish like a pattern in the sea. The obsessively painted monochromatic fish figures showed the depth and tranquility of the deep underwater. The recent works invite the viewers to dive into the sea. The delicately swimming fish and the waves painted in thick paste create an opposing texture. The clear and peaceful surface of water and the violent waves of deep sea amplify the juxtaposing ambience. The contradiction shows the sublimity and mystery of nature. The artist hopes to share his world of meditation with the viewers.
