CHUN
Visual art is a reflection of urban streets. It is a space where anything can happen--where beauty, destruction, joy and pain can co-exist and disappear at any moment.
Having lived in major cities around the world, I want to capture the grittiness, the materialism, the industrialism, the bright lights and the raw human elements which make-up a city’s vibe. I primarily work with acrylics and/or paint markers, which, on a symbolic and practical level is synthetic, quick-drying and retains luminosity.
My work is abstract with intersecting geometric shapes. Perhaps these shapes represent buildings, highways, or a human cell? My bold colors represent urban energy-- fast-paced, sexy, and diverse. On a macro-level, the shapes and colors represent the frantic, intertwining lives and environments of people of different races, cultures, and lifestyles. On a micro-level, there is a sense of human vulnerability as my shapes and colors reference biology, such as arteries and cells.
Technically, I like to paint with heavy body, creating relief and texture to the shapes. The grit, bumps and fractures represent the rawness of urban centers. I also work spontaneously, allowing chance to dictate direction. A pure moment is when shapes start to create a unified form and its composition reveals itself. Within a metropolitan environment, people learn to adapt to their surroundings and always recognize opportunities.
In the future, I envision my abstract work on different surface materials and three-dimensional spaces. Texture and depth not only brings the viewer into the work but also pulls them outside of the piece, much in the same way city life ebbs and flows.
Bio
For more than fifteen years, I have developed my abstract work from charcoal to mixed materials to acrylic on canvas.
Growing up in the New York metropolitan area and living around the world, I have always been influenced by the sights and sounds of a city. It is the dynamic vibe of a city, which provides great inspiration for my work.
In 1992, I participated in the Cornell Design Show. Having created a body of charcoal works, I envisioned my work beyond paper and onto moving people. I heat- transferred eleven of my works onto dyed shirts, while displaying the original pieces in the art exhibition area. I wanted to see how my charcoal pieces with their gritty motifs would move on people as if they were going about their daily street lives.
In 2009, I started Phusol Group, LLC which is a design-art company producing art merchandise to support and promote urban artists and their communities. Phusol Wear is one brand which commissions artists for apparel designs. Portions of sales will help sponsor and produce the “Phusol Studio” campaign, the Phusol Logo Project and artist shows for the public to discover. In addition, the brand will continue to foster young artists to reach their creative dreams.
In an effort to bring awareness to artists and their communities, the Phusol Group started the social awareness Phusol Studio campaign. Whether an illustrator, painter, DJ, photographer, filmmaker, etc., an artist is interviewed and featured on our Facebook and YouTube fan pages.
In addition, the Phusol Logo Project is a project inviting artists to interpret the brand logo with their unique creativity. Selected works will receive their own production line, allowing the public to learn about their inspirations and influences.
In 2010, I participated in one of the largest underground art shows in LA. The Pancakes and Booze Art show was held in downtown LA, attracting more than 1,000 visitors over a two-day exhibition.