Byung Kim

Posted in Printmaker on Jul 21, 2010 at 12:17 pm

Hi my name is Byung and I am silkscreen artist from Los Angeles, California. I come from a background in architecture. It only took me 5 years of school and 4 years working in the field to realize that my real passion lies in art. I see my background in architecture as an essential part of my art. I do not believe that I would have created my current style if I never did architecture. Also my approach to almost systematically changing elements from one print to the other is probably due to my architectural background. Even my preferred medium of choice is influenced by architecture. I sketch my designs on paper first but finalize the color and designs in an architectural drafting program.

I love using the eye as my main motif in my work. It is easily recognized and unmistakable. It can be shown in a simple form but still have such a strong impact.

I have not named most of my prints. I see them more as a continued development and experimentation using the same theme. The prints are assigned a number to represent the order in which they have created.

001: This is the first silkscreen print I have done. The inspiration for this print came from an experience of being in a cave. The shape of the eyes are created by formations that loosely resembles stalagmite and stalactites. The eyes also represents that sense we sometimes experience of somebody watching you even when you are alone.

002: Print 002 was in many ways the opposite of print 001. Unlike the print 001, which had subdued colors print 002 has bright bold colors. Unlike print 001′s dark receding in to the dark vibe, print 002 feels more like an explosion of shapes coming out.

003: In print 003 I started exploring patterns. Unlike the previous prints which stood out as objects, print 003 has the visual feel of a continuous pattern that can be continued indefinitely.

004: In print 004 I started experimenting with the symbol of the eye. The shape of the eye stayed the same but I added a new element. I added the tear as part of the eye. I simplified the design by creating the tear as a part of the iris.

005: In print 005 I started experimenting in adding other elements to compliment the eye. My initial inspiration was the Eye of Horus, an Egyptian symbol that was believed to protect and bestow wisdom and prosperity to the owner.