Yunghun Yoo's latest solo exhibition at the 839 Gallery offers a thought-provoking exploration of connection and parting, mediated by the Southern California transportation system. Like philosopher Michel Foucault, who identified heterotopias as spaces that subvert societal norms, Yoo's work finds its own unique spatial ordinance in the interstices between train tracks.
The exhibition features a series of paintings that traverse the physical track, but also delve into the mental terrain of the traveler. In "Exit Wound," for instance, a bright yellow background evokes the carnage left by a gunshot, with flesh splintering and twining into horizon lines. This work serves as a poignant metaphor for parting ways, where something that once connected us leaves an indelible mark.
Yoo's paintings are not representations of trains but rather spaces within which transportation takes place. As he put it, "My paintings (of trains) are more spaces than beings of transportation." The artist's use of gestural vigor and expressive brushstrokes imbues his work with a dynamic energy, as if the train itself is in motion.
A prominent piece, "8(2)," features two columns of four nebulous spheres bound together by faint ligatures of color. This painting represents platform assignments, which are subject to transpositions or reconfiguration. Yoo experiments with opacity here, blighting out loud swathes and strokes into quiet implications that hover over the kitchen sink, railway signals beside an empty telephone niche.
The artist's exploration of connection is both subtle and profound. "I was trying to describe the idea of parting with something," he explained. Like a train hurtling down the track, something once connected us can leave behind only pain and tension. In his paintings, Yoo captures this interstitial place of discomfort and euphoria.
Other works in the exhibition, such as "Train II" and "Beach," blur the line between representation and figuration. The former features cylindrical shapes chugging along train tracks, while the latter is a translucent self-portrait with a Vitruvian Man-like figure stretched out yellow limbs over a salmon square.
Ultimately, Yoo's work defies fixed meaning, instead offering a serendipitous encounter that lingers in the mind like the movement of a train. His paintings are a testament to the complexity and beauty of connection – a space without a place where we find ourselves suspended between departure and arrival, forever bound to the tracks of our own journeys.
The exhibition features a series of paintings that traverse the physical track, but also delve into the mental terrain of the traveler. In "Exit Wound," for instance, a bright yellow background evokes the carnage left by a gunshot, with flesh splintering and twining into horizon lines. This work serves as a poignant metaphor for parting ways, where something that once connected us leaves an indelible mark.
Yoo's paintings are not representations of trains but rather spaces within which transportation takes place. As he put it, "My paintings (of trains) are more spaces than beings of transportation." The artist's use of gestural vigor and expressive brushstrokes imbues his work with a dynamic energy, as if the train itself is in motion.
A prominent piece, "8(2)," features two columns of four nebulous spheres bound together by faint ligatures of color. This painting represents platform assignments, which are subject to transpositions or reconfiguration. Yoo experiments with opacity here, blighting out loud swathes and strokes into quiet implications that hover over the kitchen sink, railway signals beside an empty telephone niche.
The artist's exploration of connection is both subtle and profound. "I was trying to describe the idea of parting with something," he explained. Like a train hurtling down the track, something once connected us can leave behind only pain and tension. In his paintings, Yoo captures this interstitial place of discomfort and euphoria.
Other works in the exhibition, such as "Train II" and "Beach," blur the line between representation and figuration. The former features cylindrical shapes chugging along train tracks, while the latter is a translucent self-portrait with a Vitruvian Man-like figure stretched out yellow limbs over a salmon square.
Ultimately, Yoo's work defies fixed meaning, instead offering a serendipitous encounter that lingers in the mind like the movement of a train. His paintings are a testament to the complexity and beauty of connection – a space without a place where we find ourselves suspended between departure and arrival, forever bound to the tracks of our own journeys.
Like how trains can take us to new places but also leave us feeling empty when we arrive 
. His paintings are like this in-between space, not just showing the train but what's happening inside our heads while we're on it 
. It's like he's tapping into this feeling of discomfort and euphoria at the same time, you know? 
And I love how his work is all about exploring these abstract spaces, rather than just representing reality 
. Like, have you ever noticed how sometimes trains can be so mesmerizing, but also kinda sad? 
. I mean, who hasn't felt that pain of losing something special? 
The way the bright yellow background just explodes off the canvas is insane! It's like your emotions are bleeding all over the place, you know? I'm also loving how he blurs the line between representation and figuration in his other pieces... it's like he's subverting our expectations of what art should be. Anyway, I need to go see this exhibition ASAP 
839 Gallery, here I come!
trains are soooo overrated 
, sounds like a bunch of hippie jargon to me 
. give me something with some real depth, like a good ol' fashioned cityscape or a weird glitch art piece 
. this train stuff is just so... basic 
I love how he plays with texture & color, making you feel like you're on a journey too 
"Train II" has me thinking about how we cling to memories of loved ones when they're gone 
. I mean, train tracks and connections? How original. It's like the artist took a few philosophy books from the shelf and thought they could just paint some stuff about it. But hey, Yunghun Yoo's got skills, I guess... his brushstrokes are pretty wild 
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interesting how Yunghun Yoo's art explores connections through transportation spaces. The way he uses train tracks as metaphors for parting ways is so thought-provoking. And I love how his paintings capture that in-between moment where you're still holding on but also letting go. The abstract pieces like "8(2)" are mesmerizing, too! 
. The way he explores connection and parting through his paintings is so thought-provoking, you know? I mean, those train tracks in "Exit Wound" are like, super symbolic of how things can leave a mark on us when they're gone 
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His use of color & brushstrokes gives his paintings this dynamic energy that feels like the train itself is moving 
The way he explores the idea of connection without fixed meaning makes me think of how we're all on our own journeys, suspended between departure & arrival 
It's beautiful 
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. and i love how he says that his paintings are more spaces than beings of transportation – it's like he's challenging this idea that trains are just machines or something 
. He's exploring these ideas of connection and parting, but it's not just about trains, it's about the spaces in between – the liminal places where we're suspended between two things 
. It's like he's tapping into this hidden language that only we can understand, you know? And those colors! Bright yellow, neon pink... it's like he's trying to hypnotize us with the pain and tension of parting 
. Who is funding this guy, anyway? What's their angle? 
. Anyway, I think this exhibition is a must-see for anyone interested in art or just life in general 
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Yunghun Yoo's solo show is like that one friend who still lives with you after you've moved out - it's always lingering in your space, making you feel awkward 
. So if you're into that whole "thinking about trains and emotions" vibe, then this show is def worth checking out 
Still, overall, I think Yoo's work is pretty thought-provoking and visually stunning... just don't expect everything to make total sense, I guess 
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i feel like yunghun yoo's paintings are capturing this bittersweet feeling of parting ways with something that was really important to us... like a train track that you've been following all your life, and now it's time to get off at a new station 
