Potatic Dimension

For this year's Residency Program, I will stage an exhibition composing of twenty photographs which I took in Mt. Lushan. I took these photographs from the Portrait Park located nearby Lushan Hotel where I stayed, wherein several sculptures of foreign writers are erected. Aside from this, I also created an outdoor project entitled "Floating Blue" – nine pieces of clouds artworks suspended in the forest. Taking photos of the works I did in Nature is one of my foremost art practice. I have been doing this for thirty years alongside my painting activities. In the early days of doing Nature art, I used my body to interact with Nature. Nowadays, I prefer to do art that leaves very minimal traces of the artworks done and using only natural materials found in Nature. Because of my developed sensitivity to how the light plays and making nature comes alive, I sometimes utilized this phenomenon. I enjoyed very much walking alone on the quiet path in the park, occasionally taking a closer look at the things that captures my probing eyes. I would wait for a while until I feel a sudden discovery that a potential artwork is waiting to be created.

전원길_Untitled_디지털 C프린트_2011_Mt Lushan in China

전원길_Kissing Leaves_디지털 C프린트_2011_Mt Lushan in China

전원길_Untitled_디지털 C프린트_2011_Mt Lushan in China

Through my photos, you will find what I have created and left in nature and you might also discover that everything in nature is precious that most of us are not concern about. We pass by without even looking at them and never realized that we can have a balanced relationship with nature through Nature art. "Nature art is inter-related not only with natural sceneries of plants and trees, but, with lights, sounds, colors, and most importantly, its natural inner principles and natural phenomena and how the different artists utilize them on their creative artistic expressions. Working with nature is different from working indoors and requires a different approach. It is different from the conventional painting method that employs painting techniques and painting skills. Likewise, It is different from the general installation works which realizes conceptual works by forcing artificial structures into the open air. Nature art does not treat Nature merely as objects and materials and does not try to define and transform it. Nature art is a weaving of ideas that connects everything in Nature - trees, shadows, plants, stones, and this connection is completed with the involvement of the artist that comes into play that we then call art. So, when Nature and Man's intention is unified visually and conceptually, it becomes an 'art-state'.

전원길_Stair_디지털 C프린트_2011_Mt Lushan in China

전원길_Untitled_디지털 C프린트_2011_Mt Lushan in China

This kind of method is different from other methods of natural art, such as, traditional painting and sculpture working with nature or making an installation working with natural materials. In Nature art, one component does not completely negate or overrule the other, and, the change does not make them looked totally different where both components vanish. It's like sponge absorbing water, water and sponge unite as one but not harming each other." The title "Potatic Dimension" came up over a dinner table creative discussion amongst the residency artists. The atmosphere is like a brainstorming session wherein everyone's imagination was heightened that enhanced each others'. We generated interesting words like "Gallery Potato", "White Wind" for Roger Rigorth's beautiful pieces and "Floating Blue" for my outdoor works. The word 'Potatic' was a term we coined to express 'poetic, artistic and something we don't know'. We thought the line, "intoxicated by Nature makes us embracing everything", written by an Italian poet and used also as a title for Elena's work, could be the meaning of 'Potatic'. Mt. Lushan gave me a lot of inspiration, but I have just touched its small beginnings. As I go along with my journey in Nature art, I think I could develop more and more and express a 'potatic way' that Mt. Lushan opened up in me. ■ Jeon, Won-gil

전원길_Pebbles on a Leaf_디지털 C프린트_2011_Mt Lushan in China

在今年的艺术创作营计划中我会举办一个展览来展示在庐山所拍摄的20张照片。这些都是在我居住的宾馆附近的国际友谊雕塑公园拍的。除此之外，我还创作了题为"蓝色飘动"的室外装置作品—由九块悬挂在森林中的云构成的艺术作品。 在大自然中拍摄照片是我重要的艺术实践之一。三十年来，我在绘画的同时也在拍摄摄影作品。 我的早期自然艺术是使用自己的身躯与大自然进行互动。现在，我喜欢采用尽可能少的艺术痕迹，只使用在大自然中找得到的自然原料。因为，有时候我会利用光线的变化让自然灵动起来。 一个人在公园之中的寂静的林中小径漫步是很惬意的。我会偶尔停下脚步来观察。我会等待有突然的发现，这会是我艺术创作的灵感。 通过我的照片，你们会发现我留在自然中的痕迹，你也会发现自然的一切都那么珍贵，只是我们多数人都没有注意到。从来没有意识到可以通过自然艺术跟自然达到和谐。 "自然艺术不只是与植物景观，而且和光线、声音、色彩，最重要的是与自然内在的原则与现象相关，不同艺术家利用这些元素表达他们的创意。在大自然当中的工作方式，完全不同于在室内进行创作。这与传统绘画采用的工艺和技巧完全不同。也和在室外安装人为结构实现观念的一般的装置艺术的做法不同。自然艺术不会把自然仅仅当做对象和原料去定义和改变它。" 自然艺术将树木、阴影、植物、岩石等自然界的一切元素编织在一起，我们把艺术家建立的这种联系称为艺术。因此，自然和人类的在视觉上和概念上结合就成为"艺术境界"。 这种方式不同于传统绘画、雕塑或者使用自然材料的装置艺术。自然艺术之中的元素不会完全否定或者排斥其他元素，就像海绵吸收水分，海绵和水和谐相处而不冲突。" "Potatic Dimension"这个概念来自艺术创作营的艺术家们在餐桌上的一次集思广益，每个艺术家的想象力都迸发出来。创造出有趣的词汇像"Gallery Potato"，罗杰的作品"白色的风"以及我的作品名称"蓝色飘动"等等。 "Potatic"这个词汇是我们艺术家创造出来的，表达的是"诗意，艺术创造和无法用语言表达的意念或者情感"。我们认为一段意大利诗人的诗句"我们沉醉于大自然，拥抱大自然的一切"，而这也是艾琳娜作品的名称，就是"Potatic"的涵义。 庐山给了我许多灵感，而这仅仅是一个小小的开始。我的自然艺术创作也将在庐山 "诗意之路" 的启示下得到不断发展。 ■ 田元吉

Vol.20110712i | 전원길展 / JEONWONGIL / 田元吉 / photography