Donghyun Son (b. 1980) is known for painting fictional characters in popular films such as Darth Vader from the Star Wars Saga and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles using traditional Northeast Asian painting techniques. Son wittily draws with methods reserved for traditional portrait of real-world figures, and when he does paint real-world characters, they are always complex, multi-faceted, larger-than-life personalities, like Michael Jackson.
Read MoreIn his most recent works, this witty style steps away from the subject matter and toward a bolder interpretation of the painting techniques of the Northeast Asian tradition as well as the form and medium of choice. Son harks to, but replaces Xie He's six points (繪畫六法: six points of consideration in the practice of painting), such as physical properties of ink, and even expressive techniques of traditional landscape paintings in favor of character personality traits and outward presentation. Change is constant in the artist's subject matter, as is the artist's exploration of traditional modes of painting from Northeast Asia and its spirituality.
Text courtesy GALLERY2.
