“Longevity”

Mineral pigment on Korean paper (Hanji) over wood panel 14" x 42"

This piece has been awarded Special Merit from The “Botanical & Florals” Art Open-Exhibition, Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery in 2018

PRESENTATION

By Lynne Lawner

Long life! That’s something auspicious that we often wish for others and for ourselves. Kate Oh, in her ambitious panel painting currently on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the collective exhibition “The Art Work: Artists Working at The Met” (6-06 to 6-19-22), supplies us with two visions of a long life, First, she attempts to keep alive traditional Korean popular painting from as far back as the 14th century, specifically in the Min-hwa style, while giving it a contemporary look and feeling.

Secondly, her subject matter embraces the very theme of longevity, a recurring favourite in Asian art. In the panel currently on display, Kate, who owns and directs a charming street-level art gallery on the corner of E. 72nd St. and Madison Ave., adeptly sprinkles across her canvas deer, red-crested cranes, tortoises, and other natural phenomena, including mountains, clouds, waterfalls, pine-trees, mushrooms and bamboo—in all, ten symbols of this prized benefit to humanity, when so gifted by the gods. Looking closely, we see that, with a dash of humour, she has added a non-traditional element to the scene, now mounting to eleven elements in her counting: a tiny human being! Surely his well-being and tranquillity are reinforced by the protective forms surrounding him and the rich, warm browns and forest-greens. Surely ours may be, as well, while gazing at this fine work.

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Traditional Korean Folk Art

Minhwa refers to a genre of Korean folk art from the late Choseon era, 17th to 19th Century. The paintings embody the mythology, religion and viewpoints of the Korean people and are mainly created for decorative purposes. Minhwa painting conveys artistic expressions of unknown artists, with subjects symbolizing happiness, anger, love and delight in everyday life, as well as wishes for wellbeing.

Dancheong was traditionally developed as a preservative and decorative art to be painted over architectural features on palaces, temples and other prominent buildings in historic Korea. Characteristic Dancheong motifs include lotus flowers, vines, geometric shapes and patterns complementing building frames.