By Kaelie Macaulay

Staff Writer

LACMA presents “Unexpected Light: Works by Young Il Ahn,” its first solo Korean-American art exhibit which explores themes of life at sea.

“Unexpected Light: Works by Young Il Ahn” portrays a unique, abstract style of Korean artistry. Despite its cluttered set-up, the sizable acrylic pieces impress with their dynamic grid-like design.

Curated by assistant curator of Korean art at LACMA Virginia Moon, the exhibit showcases 15 pieces from Young Il Ahn’s “Water” series. In Feb. 2016, LACMA acquired “Water SZLB15,” a piece from the “Water” collection which was the first piece by a Korean-American artist to be displayed at LACMA.

Young Il Ahn’s  series “Water”  was inspired by his near-death experience in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Santa Monica. While aboard a small fishing boat in 1983, fog suddenly immersed his boat and when it cleared, all that was visible was the sunlight shining on the ocean, a view that he attempts to capture through his paintings.

Photos: LACMA debuts an abstract style of Korean-American artistry in their most recent exhibit, “Unexpected Light: Works by Young Il Ahn,” to showcase the diversity in Asian-American cultures. Amongst the sea-colored pieces, Ahn displays massive, lively canvases strewn with intricate details. 

Each of the paintings in “Water” seek to explore the ways in which the water reacts with light and fog. From a distance, the paintings look as if they are a solid, vibrant color. When up close, the small squares of thickly applied acrylic paint model the soft movement of water.

The artwork intrigues viewers with its prismatic arrangement that features multiple dimensions. Ahn skillfully captures the depth of light reflecting off of the water. Each piece exhibits glistening flecks of color that mimic the movement and behavior of the effect of light cast on the ocean.

LACMA opens their newest exhibition on February 25th, “Unexpected Light: Works by Young Il Ahn,” to provide a representation of Korean-American art and seek to explore the ways in which the water reacts with light and fog. The simplistic, grid-like design of the canvases impress with their depth and composition.

When examined carefully, viewers can observe the clumps of acrylic paint among the square-like strokes. This intricate detail emphasizes the shadows, making the piece a multi-dimensional art form. The colored square grid threatens to spill over the canvas, casting shadows that accentuate the reflective, water-like image.

However, the newest exhibition is awkwardly placed within the Korean Art exhibit, causing viewers to become disoriented. There are entrances from multiple sides of the exhibit and only one of them has a description of the collection, making the layout of the exhibition slightly scrambled and difficult to navigate.

LACMA’s  “Unexpected Light: Works by Young Il Ahn” demonstrates the diversity in Korean art. Although lumberingly placed, the ancient Korean masterpieces as well as the luminous acrylic paintings showcases a wide cultural range of Korean art.

“Unexpected Light: Works by Young Il Ahn” is available for viewing for free at LACMA located on the second floor of the Hammer Building on 5905 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles, until Oct 1.