[오페라 갤러리 전시] Artists depicting timeless emotions

2009.2.13

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Emotions like love, loneliness and comfort do not follow a certain trend, but will always be deep inside all hearts.

Artists Sylvain Tremblay and Samy Briss depict these universal, eternal feelings on canvas in their own ways. Their works are currently on display at the exhibition "Timeless" at Opera Gallery Seoul in Cheongdam-dong.

Tremblay's works easily arouse viewers' sympathies. The human figures in his work are expressed with thin and long shapes without any eyes, nose nor mouth, but their gestures or the background colors hint at the characters' sentiments.

"People on the canvas are like stones. Wind blows and light shines on them but their essences are still. That's why I didn't paint the details of their faces," the Canada-based artist said.

"Time is not important. What is important is what is inside them. Their essence."

The artist filled the background with vivid colors and geometrical shapes that remind of Klimt's works. He finished them with varnish, turning the canvas luminous.

"If you look closely, you can see your reflection on the varnish. So while you try to get to know the inner feelings of the figures on the paintings, you might as well be able to take a deep look inside your own self."

Tremblay started his career in the commercial art industry but decided to be a free artist as his passion for fine art grew stronger. Now at the age of 43, he is a representative artist of Canada, gaining attention in major cities across Europe.

On the other hand, Samy Briss focuses on a certain emotion: consolation.

Mothers tightly hug their children, lovers happily embrace, and birds and fish peacefully float around in his paintings. Briss uses lots of blue.

"The blue spaces represent holy, spiritual sanctuary where our true vulnerability can be revealed," said Kim Young-ae, curator of the exhibition.

Born in Romania, the artist moved to Tel Aviv, the culture capital of Israel in his 30s. Ever since, the Byzantine style influenced his work, making it serene and sacred. He made many sculptures and wall paintings in Tel Aviv, and is still vigorously engrossed in his works at an age nearly 80.

The exhibition runs through March 10 at Opera Gallery Seoul in southern Seoul. For more information, call (02) 3446-0070 or visit www.operagallery.com

By Park Min-young

(claire@heraldm.com)