Waterdrops No. 10 1977

Kim Tschang-Yeul made Waterdrops No. 10, with oil paint on canvas, to give the illusion of water droplets. The way he works is very process oriented, layering thin glazes to build up the form and create depth. The canvas has a tactile quality - you can see the weave of the linen underneath those glassy, shimmering beads of water. If you look closely, you can see how the light catches on each drop, creating tiny highlights and shadows. Notice how each drop is unique, yet they all share a similar form. It's a mesmerizing balance of realism and abstraction. I'm reminded of Vija Celmins and her meticulously rendered surfaces. Like Celmins, Kim asks us to really *see* the world around us, but unlike Celmins, he creates a sense of calm and contemplation through this intimate representation of the everyday. It's like he's saying, "Hey, even the simplest things can be beautiful if you take the time to notice."