Korean Experiential Art-inspired edgy pop art watercolor paintings

Check out two new watercolor art pieces inspired by the Hammer exhibit

Mar 12, 2024

Hi there, thanks for tuning in!

Here are two watercolor pieces I made recently, inspired by a visit to the Hammer Museum in LA, which featured an exhibit on Korean experiential art from the 60s and 70s. The art at the exhibit was described as ‘defying the canvas’, instead using materials that artists found around Seoul. The atmosphere reflected a tension from the industrialization happening to the city, pressure on gender roles, and the post-war political landscape. Artists sought to convey these intense themes while till honoring traditional Korean heritage, such as the Korean wind flags. It was thought-provoking on what it means to create art that stands for something while expressing the message in out-of-the-box ways.

This exhibit inspired me to create some more abstract watercolor paintings. The first one below is an edgy pop art take on the ocean using only three colors: Phthalo Blue, Alizarin Crimson, and Permanent Rose. The second is an abstract expression using a palette of Phthalo Blue, Prussian Blue, Lemon Yellow, and Raw Sienna. For these, I created each of the paintings in a 30 to 40 minute session, painting with a wet-on-wet technique using a 1” flat brush. The canvas are both 30x40’’ - my largest canvas yet. It’s very fun to have the space on such a large canvas!

Here are some of the art pieces from the Hammer exhibit, as well as my watercolor paintings. Hope these inspire you to find some ‘off the canvas’ inspiration this week! Let me know if you have any notes in the comments below or reply to my email.