Duri Baek’s soothing paintings are a spectacle of shadow and light

The artist uses the mesmerising effect of light passing through trees as an all-encompassing metaphor for “the moment when two elements of opposing properties collide”.

Date
3 October 2022

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There’s something utterly transfixing about Duri Baek’s paintings. Despite only using a simple dual palette of green and yellow, Duri perfectly recreates the striking moment when sunlight travels through leaves and greenery. All of which is crafted through fine-tuned brush strokes and a clear attention to detail.

Calling the series of paintings Hwijowon, which translates to “a garden built out of light”, Duri’s focus on the natural occurrence of light and shadow comes from her interest in “the moment when two elements of opposing properties collide”. She thus uses the natural visual metaphor to refer to more intangible collisions, like “hiding and revealing” and “the intersection of relationships and individuality”. When observing the pieces that include human figures – often realised with simplistic black lines – these references become apparent, and her soothing scenes turn into a place for quiet contemplation and reflection.

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Duri Baek: Greenish Light (Copyright © Duri Baek, 2022)

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Duri Baek: Simultaneity (Copyright © Duri Baek, 2022)

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Duri Baek: The Position of Light (Copyright © Duri Baek, 2022)

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Duri Baek: On the Rocks Suesong-dong Valley (Copyright © Duri Baek, 2022)

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Duri Baek: On the Rocks Suesong-dong Valley (Copyright © Duri Baek, 2022)

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Duri Baek: Onset of Spring (Copyright © Duri Baek, 2022)

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Duri Baek: Forest of Camellia Trees (Copyright © Duri Baek, 2022)

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Duri Baek: Simultaneity 2 (Copyright © Duri Baek, 2022)

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Duri Baek: The Position of Light (Copyright © Duri Baek, 2022)

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Copyright © Duri Baek, 2022

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Duri Baek: Yeonnamdong (Copyright © Duri Baek, 2021)

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About the Author

Olivia Hingley

Olivia (she/her) joined the It’s Nice That team as an editorial assistant in November 2021 and soon became staff writer. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh with a degree in English literature and history, she’s particularly interested in photography, publications and type design.

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