In 2012, on a fateful day in New York City, often regarded as the epicenter of the global art scene, Times Square underwent a remarkable transformation, as it was suddenly enveloped by what can only be described as a "black and white forest." This extraordinary artistic creation stretched across an impressive 50 screens spanning seven city blocks, casting a captivating and gentle spell upon New York, the very heart of 21st-century civilization worldwide. This mesmerizing masterpiece, titled "Visual Kinematics: A State of Art," was the brainchild of the talented Korean artist, Elly Cho.
▲ Elly Cho, Photo by Sims Green@SayArt.
The inspiration of that day could have been the moment when a Korean fine artist gained the world's most significant attention through video art since Nam June Paik, the globally renowned "video artist" hailing from Korea. "digital artist". Nevertheless, there are many who refer to her as a film director. In May of the previous year, she achieved the remarkable distinction of being the first Korean film director to receive an invitation to the prestigious AVIFF (Art Film Festival) in Cannes, France. There, she showcased her film "The Eclipse: Recognized by the Sound," solidifying her position as an international film director.
Yet, these grand labels, be it as a film director or digital artist, are merely masks bestowed upon her by the world. She humbly expressed that she originally considered herself a painter and said, "I was merely expressing myself in a different manner." In a conversation with SayArt, we had the pleasure of meeting Elly Cho, a rising star on the international stage, who distinguishes herself in the global art arena with her pioneering mindset. We delved into her distinct artistic universe and sought to understand her unique perspective on art.
As she emphasizes, the foundation of her artistry lies in painting. She fondly recalls her love for drawing from as early as the age of five. Even when those around her dismissed her creations as mere doodles or scribbles, every stroke and sketch was a manifestation of her budding artistic spirit. "Back then, I thought drawing was the coolest thing I did," she reminisced. "I'd tell my parents, 'Someday, I'm going to be an artist,'" she added. She candidly admitted that she harbored a strong aversion to anything else, driven by her innate single-mindedness.
Her childhood environment further fueled her passion for art. Her father, a jeweler and antique collector, and her mother, a student of environmental design, always observed her artistic endeavors with affectionate eyes. Additionally, her father's frequent trips to Jeju Island for business exposed her to the island's breathtaking natural beauty, fostering her deep connection with the mysteries of nature.
The artworks that adorned her home, along with her family's collection, served as a constant source of artistic inspiration, stimulating her creative senses throughout the day. "In hindsight, I don't believe I've ever entertained the thought of pursuing anything other than art," she confessed, proudly declaring herself an "artaholic."
▲ Elly Cho, Echo 2, Acrylic on canvas, 120x93cm, Courtesy of Elly Cho.
Elly Cho pursued her education in both the United Kingdom and the United States. She studied fine art in England and, upon completing her studies, made her initial foray into the art world by simultaneously exhibiting her work in both England and Germany. This venture garnered her a multitude of offers from prestigious European art organizations.
However, a pivotal moment occurred when she stumbled upon an article in a magazine that captured her imagination, leading her to attend a "summer school" in a northern Italian city. This summer school was under the guidance of a fine art professor, Nick Carone from Yale University. The picturesque hills and fields she encountered during her time there ignited a fresh wave of artistic inspiration within her. Each day, she diligently translated the beauty of the landscape onto canvas, with particular attention to the junctures where fields met hills.
Her journey into landscape painting gradually transitioned into abstract art over the course of several years. She explained, "I believe that my focus on the intricate lines of objects and translating them onto canvas naturally guided me toward abstraction." Her discerning eye, which penetrated the essence of objects during that period, now serves as the wellspring for her distinctive abstract paintings today.
However, it would be overly simplistic to categorize her work solely as "abstract painting." Rather, experts describe her creations as "something" where elements of figuration and abstraction coexist harmoniously.
▲ Elly Cho, Evolving No.4, Acrylic on canvas, 74x92cm, 2023
She always initiates her creative process with a distinct and imaginative concept. One noteworthy example of her approach is seen in her practice of applying oil paints directly onto photographs. When her brush makes contact with the canvas, the pristine "picture pixels," which are precise reproductions, instantaneously disintegrate. Within this intricate process, she meticulously layers symbols and lines repeatedly. This transformative journey elevates the painting to a heightened level of abstraction.
At the core of her artistic expression lies the dynamic interplay between lines and symbols. The abstract images evolve into fresh, evocative messages that resonate with the audience. Thin and thick lines gracefully trace across the canvas, appearing to dance upon the symbols. In certain moments, these lines swirl and intertwine, akin to the rapid beats of traditional Korean music known as "jajinmori," while in others, they soar like dragons in the sky, echoing with thunderous intensity.
In these poignant instants, the audience's senses awaken, forging a profound connection between the viewers and the artwork, uniting them in a shared experience.
She found inspiration in the "Water Lily Series," a collection of paintings by the Impressionist master Claude Monet (1840-1926), created during his later years. This series is often regarded as the genesis of modern abstract art. Monet's "Water Lily" works are so abstract that one might struggle to discern their precise subjects without prior context. In a manner akin to Monet, Elly Cho's paintings feature elements that challenge viewers to grasp their essence, punctuated by vivid and striking colors that leave a lasting impression.
Elly Cho's artistic style knows no bounds. The shifts, evolutions, and underlying messages in her art stem from the traumas she has experienced in her life. Following her graduate studies with a major in video art, she ventured into various artistic avenues when she encountered roadblocks in her creative journey. Whether it's through drawing, painting, filmmaking, electronic art, video art, media art, performance, or any other medium, they all serve as conduits for her artistic soul. Despite the ever-changing methods, there's a consistent message she conveys to her audience, one born from the depths of her being, grounded in her personal history marked by the sudden loss of her younger brother and the heart-wrenching kidnapping of her beloved canine companion, who was family to her.
This message resonates as a desperate plea, echoing from her innermost self, proclaiming, "We are all interconnected! We must protect one another." It appears to be her universal sensibility. The "Black and White Forest" displayed at Times Square in New York from a few years back seems to encapsulate this profound sentiment of hers. Furthermore, her current focus on addressing climate change can be seen as an extension of her fervent desire to safeguard the Earth and its natural ecosystem, a shared inheritance belonging to us all.
Despite the diversity of her works, Elly Cho's creative journey invariably commences at her fingertips – with drawing. It is through drawing that she concretizes her thoughts and ideas. She expounds, "I have a clear vision of how the work will evolve from the very start. I put those thoughts down on paper. These drawings later metamorphose into paintings, and at times, they take on the form of performances. Occasionally, they manifest as digital art or even film."
In essence, her drawings serve as the "pregnancy," while the various forms her work takes on represent the stages of "birth and growth." Lately, she's been exploring an innovative approach known as "automatic drawing." This method involves the utilization of AI in the creation of her art, although it's important not to jump to conclusions. There's a common misconception that AI will ultimately replace human roles in creative endeavors. We've all heard about self-driving cars, and there's growing concern that AI, capable of creating visual art or composing music, will sideline human artists. Indeed, AI can now generate images and music, which makes these concerns understandable.
▲ Elly Cho, Echo 2, Acrylic on canvas, 120x93cm
However, Elly Cho's "automatic drawing" is a different story entirely. She harnesses AI's limited capabilities to generate "innovative art." Much like the pioneering artistic experiments of 20th-century modernists, she ventures beyond the traditional confines of art. Recently, she's applied AI technology to her work concerning "climate change and environmental issues," a subject that deeply engages her. Her method involves feeding AI various images related to the chosen topic, and AI, in turn, transforms data on changing climate patterns and environmental challenges into visual representations. It's important to note that every step of this process, from data input to the final result, adheres to her artistic intention.
Essentially, AI performs straightforward mathematical calculations. Subsequently, she takes the images produced in this manner and imbues them with her unique artistic interpretation. An image initially depicting a tree might eventually morph into an abstract form devoid of clear identity. Although her works might initially appear as mere scribbles at first glance, they reveal themselves as meticulously planned and astonishing creations.
What's particularly intriguing is the way her art unfolds to the viewer. Initially resembling "doodles," her works gradually reveal an "order within disorder" as one gazes at them over time. In that moment of revelation, viewers find themselves momentarily breathless, swept away by emotions that occasionally border on suffocation. Her avant-garde artistic practice couldn't have been realized with mere ideas alone. In fact, she obtained a certification in AI from MIT in 2018 for her work in this domain. Through this AI-driven creative process, she expanded her understanding of environmental issues. Consequently, it appears that her worries about AI taking over her craft are unfounded. More importantly, one can't help but wonder if her "automatic drawing" might signify a pivotal moment destined to leave a mark in the annals of world art history. In this regard, she could very well be considered a trailblazer or pioneer within the art world.
"I'm a meticulous planner. Planning, in itself, is a virtue; it's the roadmap to a goal. Once I've set my sights on a goal, I relentlessly pursue it without pause. Truth be told, I often craft ambitious, seemingly unattainable plans. When I'm engrossed in my work, I tend to overlook basic bodily needs like taking breaks for meals or visits to the bathroom. Some people in my circle express concern, suggesting that I'm jeopardizing my health, but I see it differently – this is my life and my destiny."
Elly Cho has achieved a remarkable string of accolades on the international stage. She clinched the prestigious Sunny Art Prize in London and secured the Best Experimental Film Award at the Cannes Art Film Festival and the Berlin Short Film Festival. Her prowess extends to various facets of filmmaking, as evidenced by her awards for Best Choreography Film, Best Silent Film, Best Experimental Film, and Best Director at the New York International Film Festival.
Her acclaim extends further with honors such as Best Dance Film and Best Director at the Beyond the Curve Film Festival in Paris, as well as the Best Experimental Film award at the ARFF Film Festival in Berlin. Her works have graced the screens of esteemed film festivals, including the 'AVIFF' Cannes Film Festival and the Asia Film Art International Film Festival, earning her recognition in international outdoor media showcases like 'Times Square Midnight Moment' in New York.
Elly Cho's artistic contributions are not limited to the realm of film. Her works have found a home in the collections of esteemed institutions like the Seoul Museum of Art and the Musée Cantonale des Beaux-Arts du Valais in Switzerland. Furthermore, her creations have been showcased in exhibitions such as 'Tempo of Nature' at the Korean Cultural Center in New York and 'Going Green,' organized by Queens Art Express in New York.
Elly Cho's impressive academic journey includes earning her BA and MFA from the renowned Slade School of Fine Art in London, along with an MA in Art Education from Columbia University. Her exceptional achievements were recently recognized when she was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by TC, Columbia University.
In the meantime, her solo exhibition will be held at Kwanhoon Gallery, a famous Korean gallery in Insa-dong, Seoul, from October 8 to November 8. Titled 'Transcendent Echoes,' this exhibition will bring together around 50 of her works that transcend conventional artistic methods, all in one harmonious space where their collective impact will reverberate.
Sayart.net Jason Yim, yimjongho1969@gmail.com
In 2012, on a fateful day in New York City, often regarded as the epicenter of the global art scene, Times Square underwent a remarkable transformation, as it was suddenly enveloped by what can only be described as a "black and white forest." This extraordinary artistic creation stretched across an impressive 50 screens spanning seven city blocks, casting a captivating and gentle spell upon New York, the very heart of 21st-century civilization worldwide. This mesmerizing masterpiece, titled "Visual Kinematics: A State of Art," was the brainchild of the talented Korean artist, Elly Cho.
▲ Elly Cho, Photo by Sims Green@SayArt.
The inspiration of that day could have been the moment when a Korean fine artist gained the world's most significant attention through video art since Nam June Paik, the globally renowned "video artist" hailing from Korea. "digital artist". Nevertheless, there are many who refer to her as a film director. In May of the previous year, she achieved the remarkable distinction of being the first Korean film director to receive an invitation to the prestigious AVIFF (Art Film Festival) in Cannes, France. There, she showcased her film "The Eclipse: Recognized by the Sound," solidifying her position as an international film director.
Yet, these grand labels, be it as a film director or digital artist, are merely masks bestowed upon her by the world. She humbly expressed that she originally considered herself a painter and said, "I was merely expressing myself in a different manner." In a conversation with SayArt, we had the pleasure of meeting Elly Cho, a rising star on the international stage, who distinguishes herself in the global art arena with her pioneering mindset. We delved into her distinct artistic universe and sought to understand her unique perspective on art.
As she emphasizes, the foundation of her artistry lies in painting. She fondly recalls her love for drawing from as early as the age of five. Even when those around her dismissed her creations as mere doodles or scribbles, every stroke and sketch was a manifestation of her budding artistic spirit. "Back then, I thought drawing was the coolest thing I did," she reminisced. "I'd tell my parents, 'Someday, I'm going to be an artist,'" she added. She candidly admitted that she harbored a strong aversion to anything else, driven by her innate single-mindedness.
Her childhood environment further fueled her passion for art. Her father, a jeweler and antique collector, and her mother, a student of environmental design, always observed her artistic endeavors with affectionate eyes. Additionally, her father's frequent trips to Jeju Island for business exposed her to the island's breathtaking natural beauty, fostering her deep connection with the mysteries of nature.
The artworks that adorned her home, along with her family's collection, served as a constant source of artistic inspiration, stimulating her creative senses throughout the day. "In hindsight, I don't believe I've ever entertained the thought of pursuing anything other than art," she confessed, proudly declaring herself an "artaholic."
▲ Elly Cho, Echo 2, Acrylic on canvas, 120x93cm, Courtesy of Elly Cho.
Elly Cho pursued her education in both the United Kingdom and the United States. She studied fine art in England and, upon completing her studies, made her initial foray into the art world by simultaneously exhibiting her work in both England and Germany. This venture garnered her a multitude of offers from prestigious European art organizations.
However, a pivotal moment occurred when she stumbled upon an article in a magazine that captured her imagination, leading her to attend a "summer school" in a northern Italian city. This summer school was under the guidance of a fine art professor, Nick Carone from Yale University. The picturesque hills and fields she encountered during her time there ignited a fresh wave of artistic inspiration within her. Each day, she diligently translated the beauty of the landscape onto canvas, with particular attention to the junctures where fields met hills.
Her journey into landscape painting gradually transitioned into abstract art over the course of several years. She explained, "I believe that my focus on the intricate lines of objects and translating them onto canvas naturally guided me toward abstraction." Her discerning eye, which penetrated the essence of objects during that period, now serves as the wellspring for her distinctive abstract paintings today.
However, it would be overly simplistic to categorize her work solely as "abstract painting." Rather, experts describe her creations as "something" where elements of figuration and abstraction coexist harmoniously.
▲ Elly Cho, Evolving No.4, Acrylic on canvas, 74x92cm, 2023
She always initiates her creative process with a distinct and imaginative concept. One noteworthy example of her approach is seen in her practice of applying oil paints directly onto photographs. When her brush makes contact with the canvas, the pristine "picture pixels," which are precise reproductions, instantaneously disintegrate. Within this intricate process, she meticulously layers symbols and lines repeatedly. This transformative journey elevates the painting to a heightened level of abstraction.
At the core of her artistic expression lies the dynamic interplay between lines and symbols. The abstract images evolve into fresh, evocative messages that resonate with the audience. Thin and thick lines gracefully trace across the canvas, appearing to dance upon the symbols. In certain moments, these lines swirl and intertwine, akin to the rapid beats of traditional Korean music known as "jajinmori," while in others, they soar like dragons in the sky, echoing with thunderous intensity.
In these poignant instants, the audience's senses awaken, forging a profound connection between the viewers and the artwork, uniting them in a shared experience.
She found inspiration in the "Water Lily Series," a collection of paintings by the Impressionist master Claude Monet (1840-1926), created during his later years. This series is often regarded as the genesis of modern abstract art. Monet's "Water Lily" works are so abstract that one might struggle to discern their precise subjects without prior context. In a manner akin to Monet, Elly Cho's paintings feature elements that challenge viewers to grasp their essence, punctuated by vivid and striking colors that leave a lasting impression.
Elly Cho's artistic style knows no bounds. The shifts, evolutions, and underlying messages in her art stem from the traumas she has experienced in her life. Following her graduate studies with a major in video art, she ventured into various artistic avenues when she encountered roadblocks in her creative journey. Whether it's through drawing, painting, filmmaking, electronic art, video art, media art, performance, or any other medium, they all serve as conduits for her artistic soul. Despite the ever-changing methods, there's a consistent message she conveys to her audience, one born from the depths of her being, grounded in her personal history marked by the sudden loss of her younger brother and the heart-wrenching kidnapping of her beloved canine companion, who was family to her.
This message resonates as a desperate plea, echoing from her innermost self, proclaiming, "We are all interconnected! We must protect one another." It appears to be her universal sensibility. The "Black and White Forest" displayed at Times Square in New York from a few years back seems to encapsulate this profound sentiment of hers. Furthermore, her current focus on addressing climate change can be seen as an extension of her fervent desire to safeguard the Earth and its natural ecosystem, a shared inheritance belonging to us all.
Despite the diversity of her works, Elly Cho's creative journey invariably commences at her fingertips – with drawing. It is through drawing that she concretizes her thoughts and ideas. She expounds, "I have a clear vision of how the work will evolve from the very start. I put those thoughts down on paper. These drawings later metamorphose into paintings, and at times, they take on the form of performances. Occasionally, they manifest as digital art or even film."
In essence, her drawings serve as the "pregnancy," while the various forms her work takes on represent the stages of "birth and growth." Lately, she's been exploring an innovative approach known as "automatic drawing." This method involves the utilization of AI in the creation of her art, although it's important not to jump to conclusions. There's a common misconception that AI will ultimately replace human roles in creative endeavors. We've all heard about self-driving cars, and there's growing concern that AI, capable of creating visual art or composing music, will sideline human artists. Indeed, AI can now generate images and music, which makes these concerns understandable.
▲ Elly Cho, Echo 2, Acrylic on canvas, 120x93cm
However, Elly Cho's "automatic drawing" is a different story entirely. She harnesses AI's limited capabilities to generate "innovative art." Much like the pioneering artistic experiments of 20th-century modernists, she ventures beyond the traditional confines of art. Recently, she's applied AI technology to her work concerning "climate change and environmental issues," a subject that deeply engages her. Her method involves feeding AI various images related to the chosen topic, and AI, in turn, transforms data on changing climate patterns and environmental challenges into visual representations. It's important to note that every step of this process, from data input to the final result, adheres to her artistic intention.
Essentially, AI performs straightforward mathematical calculations. Subsequently, she takes the images produced in this manner and imbues them with her unique artistic interpretation. An image initially depicting a tree might eventually morph into an abstract form devoid of clear identity. Although her works might initially appear as mere scribbles at first glance, they reveal themselves as meticulously planned and astonishing creations.
What's particularly intriguing is the way her art unfolds to the viewer. Initially resembling "doodles," her works gradually reveal an "order within disorder" as one gazes at them over time. In that moment of revelation, viewers find themselves momentarily breathless, swept away by emotions that occasionally border on suffocation. Her avant-garde artistic practice couldn't have been realized with mere ideas alone. In fact, she obtained a certification in AI from MIT in 2018 for her work in this domain. Through this AI-driven creative process, she expanded her understanding of environmental issues. Consequently, it appears that her worries about AI taking over her craft are unfounded. More importantly, one can't help but wonder if her "automatic drawing" might signify a pivotal moment destined to leave a mark in the annals of world art history. In this regard, she could very well be considered a trailblazer or pioneer within the art world.
"I'm a meticulous planner. Planning, in itself, is a virtue; it's the roadmap to a goal. Once I've set my sights on a goal, I relentlessly pursue it without pause. Truth be told, I often craft ambitious, seemingly unattainable plans. When I'm engrossed in my work, I tend to overlook basic bodily needs like taking breaks for meals or visits to the bathroom. Some people in my circle express concern, suggesting that I'm jeopardizing my health, but I see it differently – this is my life and my destiny."
Elly Cho has achieved a remarkable string of accolades on the international stage. She clinched the prestigious Sunny Art Prize in London and secured the Best Experimental Film Award at the Cannes Art Film Festival and the Berlin Short Film Festival. Her prowess extends to various facets of filmmaking, as evidenced by her awards for Best Choreography Film, Best Silent Film, Best Experimental Film, and Best Director at the New York International Film Festival.
Her acclaim extends further with honors such as Best Dance Film and Best Director at the Beyond the Curve Film Festival in Paris, as well as the Best Experimental Film award at the ARFF Film Festival in Berlin. Her works have graced the screens of esteemed film festivals, including the 'AVIFF' Cannes Film Festival and the Asia Film Art International Film Festival, earning her recognition in international outdoor media showcases like 'Times Square Midnight Moment' in New York.
Elly Cho's artistic contributions are not limited to the realm of film. Her works have found a home in the collections of esteemed institutions like the Seoul Museum of Art and the Musée Cantonale des Beaux-Arts du Valais in Switzerland. Furthermore, her creations have been showcased in exhibitions such as 'Tempo of Nature' at the Korean Cultural Center in New York and 'Going Green,' organized by Queens Art Express in New York.
Elly Cho's impressive academic journey includes earning her BA and MFA from the renowned Slade School of Fine Art in London, along with an MA in Art Education from Columbia University. Her exceptional achievements were recently recognized when she was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by TC, Columbia University.
In the meantime, her solo exhibition will be held at Kwanhoon Gallery, a famous Korean gallery in Insa-dong, Seoul, from October 8 to November 8. Titled 'Transcendent Echoes,' this exhibition will bring together around 50 of her works that transcend conventional artistic methods, all in one harmonious space where their collective impact will reverberate.
