Min-Woo Bang

Exhibition-The whisper of Trees

Artist-Min Woo Bang

Anyone familiar with Min's work will instantly recognize his pieces from the onset. Those who are new to his work will familiarize with them quite quickly. By contrast they will not forget them easily.
Min's limited palette of moody, sombre tones, textural groundwork and a healthy mix of intuitive application, draws the viewer to another space instantly. This space, like an old meditation cushion, transports the viewer to remote feelings, akin to deep meditative states, some feelings only available to seasoned practitioners. East or west, the results are the same. Space, mood, power, sanctity, serenity and danger, all of these aspects are evocative of a deeper primordial urge that lies within each soul, prompting hermetically sealed questions of themselves. These urges are profound, sometimes subtle and vast, begging the bigger questions of Why are we here? Where did we come from??and Where are we going?? On viewing Min's work, definable culture is immediately transcended, amalgamating our common ground of human emotion. Mountain vistas unfolding then enfolding within themselves, reflecting the powerful elements of mother earth in all her majestic power. Cloud formations enact out primordial tantric dances around coruscating peaks that emerge like enlightened flashes of inspiration. Mists that obfuscate hidden nooks and crannies, again, reflect our inner subtle mind, enticing us to take a risk and search for hidden pearls. Little caves are discovered, veiled like allegorical secrets hidden deep within our innermost complicated worlds. 
Mountains have always been mysterious places of power, and yes, completely sacred. Pilgrims from all races may spend months, even years slowly prostrating toward, circumnavigating or climbing mountains, for just one inner pearl. Many have died trying, again reflecting our weaknesses as well as our strengths. Sprinkled throughout history, literal and mythological mountains have been at the center of many universes. Like a psychic transference of this sacred symbol, Min's art literally recreates the mystery from within his inner being, from feelings and memories. These imaginative memories remind us of what we need so much in a difficult world. Like a visual prophet, in the face of such overwhelming odds, Min's work reminds us that we have to pay obeisance to the earth not the other way around. If we choose to listen to the immensity of the space in-between the sound, the rewards may be few, but well worth it. Min's work does that for me.
In a world confronted by daily turmoil, unrest, swift change and uncertainty, Min's latest works are changing and adapting to new challenges, and yet, like primal anchors, I feel safe and nurtured in these emotive, visual works. This Gnostic-like knowing that I¡¯m connected to the earth through Min's interpretations is comforting for me, as they talk directly to my hidden space.
New inner winds are guiding Min's latest paintings; these new works now incorporate foreboding trees and forests, replete with an organic language of their own. There is still the familiar subjective colour palette giving an over-all poetic rhythm within and throughout Min's entire visual history. The Bauhaus school of colour philosophy comes to mind here, as a well-trained visual artist eventually finds their own limited subjective colours to expand on complex theorems. The trademark colouring mentioned above, gives Min's work immediate recognition of his current work, forming a bridge from his earlier works.
Mists appearing through small gaps entice the viewer to probe the unknown aspect of their own respective inner search. In a few works, powerful heat emanates in the distance, a coming state of human affairs? The element of fire begins to slowly creep into Min's new works and our collective unconscious; Jung would have a field day with symbolism such as this. In some cases the viewer is enticed into the unknown, but not in a threatening way. Gaps appear like the abyss of the unknown, an unknown that one needs to cross to gain new insights and new tools for change, before again feeling safe in comfortable territory. These works invoke a non-threatening voyage of discovery in myself. These works are of a highly spiritual nature, in a world of new age remedies and age-old philosophies. 
Mists veil outcomes, like allegorical texts, this visual sage scries into our future only to find unknown outcomes, urging each of us, just to be here, right now, not to push but just contemplate exactly where we are at.
The Hermit card in the major arcana of the Tarot comes to mind here as he emerges with his lamp to guide us through new inner terrain, contemplation, perhaps enlightenment itself? This mystery is held comfortably within Min's philosophical grasp of his environment. Whether one resides in a complex city structure or a wilderness landscape, Min's work creates a viable alternative to outer confusion and chaos, a meditative inner space. Min's work creates a path for me, through time, space and temporal realities, a path that is elusive but ever present for the genuine searcher.

John Scott
Artist, Poet, and Philosopher. 2008