Food Alley II

Korean artist Choi So-young collects discarded denim. By stripping the garment of its functional and decorative nature, the artist transforms the fabric into an innovative medium. She uses the countless visual and tactile effects of the indigo dyes and their various degrees of fading as her paintbrush. Her works are profound reflections of cosmopolitan culture and consumerism. Food Alley II (Lot 109) and Walking Through the Brick Houses (Lot 110) demonstrate the artist's tremendous power of observation and aesthetics. The fragmented pieces of denim are transformed into a composition that is richly layered with details. They weave a spectacular picture that offers the viewers a window into the lives of the people and their perspectives. Overlooking the colourful splendour of the Food Alley II , the two towering buildings on the sides funnel the gaze of viewer to the centre. The vanishing point leads us to the end of the street. This composition gives the picture a dynamic flow which emphasises spatial depth. Through the masterful arrangement of the artist, the din of the city seems to have disappeared. Replacing the cacophony are the vivid colours of the bazaar and the vigorous visual movements choreographed by the composition. Born in the picturesque city of Busan, South Korea, Choi So-young has developed a special fondness for the village landscape. The vantage point of Walking Through the Brick Houses lays out the elevation of the staggered buildings to the viewers. The multitude of textures, creases, and dye-effects of the denim breaks the two-dimensionality of painting and imbues this work with a strong sculptural quality. Choi So-young's exceptional artistic sensibilities transform the otherwise banal and ordinary cityscape into something bewitching. It entices the viewers to unveil the stories shrouded behind the walls of every building.