Gouttes sur papier journal 2013

Kim Tschang-yeul painted these dewdrops on newsprint, and that simple act transforms the mundane into something magical. The way he builds up these glassy orbs, each a miniature lens reflecting the world back at us, it’s like he’s freezing a fleeting moment in time, making the ordinary feel precious. Look how the texture of the newsprint, its smudgy ink and soft paper, contrasts with the smooth, almost hyperreal finish of the water droplets. See how the light dances across the surface of each drop, creating a play of highlights and shadows. Notice too the subtle variations in tone within each drop, how they range from crystal clear to slightly milky, each one unique. It reminds me of Vija Celmins’ meticulous renderings of natural phenomena. Tschang-yeul isn't just painting drops of water; he's inviting us to pause, to contemplate the simple beauty of the everyday, and to find poetry in the impermanence of things.