Youngtaek Woo Serenity in Chaos

In the Mezzanine

Serenity in Chaos

Artist Statement

While we may start a day feeling full of serenity, the following night may coexist with chaos. Serenity and chaos are inevitabilities that harmonize our lives and our surroundings.

Chaos may begin with a very tiny, little thing and before encompassing a vast spectrum of life. This growing chaos may lead us to feel uncertain or unsafe about the future. However, serenity may simultaneously ground us as we face our lives and help us to balance the chaos and continue to our destination.

My works are primarily composed of living creatures from the natural world. I believe nature can show the best balance of serenity and chaos, as all living things can maintain life in a sometimes wild and chaotic environment. I hope my artwork comforts people and gives them peaceful rest by getting rid of some of life's busy pressures. 

Artist Biography

As a child, I loved being immersed in nature, especially watching meadows during sunrise and sunset, running alongside wheat fields, catching dragonflies, climbing trees, and hiking through mountains. This is why my works are mostly about nature.

The moment that I truly fell into painting was when I was struggling with my new reality after immigrating to Canada. I had a difficult time getting used to a different culture and everything that I had to overcome. During the time, painting helped me break through unnecessary fears and unbelief in myself, recover my sense of confidence, and find freedom in creativity.

I paint by putting thousands of brush-touches on a canvas as a kind of pointillism. My style is also inspired by one Korean scientist's point of view that everything in the world is composed of atoms, which is the smallest particle. This concept fascinated me to paint in a pointillistic style which consists of many dots. I believe each colorful brush-touch is connected and shows harmonious works on a canvas as a tiny atom shapes this world and makes it harmonious.