MOON PALACE

"I work with abstractions. When seen from a distance my works evoke the modern tradition of abstract monochrome painting. Closer-up, another level of abstraction is involved when the viewer sees revealed within the coloured field texts and/or images that are usually appropriated from books.

The effect of my work is of something being veiled. It is as if something is appearing or disappearing. I want to create a special kind of stillness and silence, to slow things down. I am interested in evoking the processes of memory.

For each exhibition I present abroad I find a subject that puts me in some kind of dialogue with the host culture. My first exhibition in Korea revolves around the theme of the moon - a key symbol in Korean poetry. There are two series of book paintings : the first comprising six paintings derived from erotic paintings by Kim Hong-Do, Shin Yoon-Bok and Choi U-Suk, the second, six paintings derived from scenes of folk life by Kisan. There will also be 2 videos using fragments of Korean poetry and images of the full moon, three paintings of traditional Korean Moon Jars, a Korean poem-painting, and three watercolours of Chinese writting characters."

Simon Morley www.simonmorley.com

Seoul. March 2008