When Color Speaks First: Paintings Encountered in a Literary Space

Yi Yuksa Literature Museum Gallery
"Contemplation in Primary Colors": Special Invitational Exhibition by Jung Jinyoung

In a space imbued with the spirit of literature, color expands into the language of contemplation. The Yi Yuksa Literature Museum Gallery in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, has organized a special invitational exhibition by painter Jung Jinyoung as its first exhibition of the new year. The exhibition runs from January 1 to February 28.

Color Speaks First, Painting Encountered in the Space of Literature, Yi Yuksa Literature Museum Gallery, 'Contemplation of Primary Colors' Special Invitational Exhibition by Jung Jinyoung

Jung Jinyoung has consistently used the essential energy and purity of primary colors as the core language of his paintings, embedding questions about the meaning of life and existence within color itself. In his works, color functions as more than a visual element; it serves as a primordial sense rooted in nature, and as a medium that evokes emotion and thought.

This exhibition places a spotlight on Jung’s unique artistic world, where color itself becomes the message and the layering and contrast of colors form a narrative of their own.

Visitors are invited to follow the colors on the canvas, experiencing not just visual appreciation but also the primal consciousness, inner tranquility, and contemplative gaze on life that permeate the paintings.

Jung Jinyoung centers his creative philosophy on the belief that “the best work comes from the finest sense of color.” The works featured in this invitational exhibition are the result of meticulous color selection and coordination, elevating the emotional and contemplative depth of each piece.

The exhibition is being held at the Yi Yuksa Literature Museum Gallery, and some works are available for purchase on-site. Notably, a portion of the exhibition’s proceeds will be used for public interest projects supporting underprivileged cultural groups in the region, underscoring the exhibition’s commitment to social contribution through art.

With the unique setting of the literature museum, this exhibition goes beyond a simple display of artwork, proposing a “time for contemplation through color.” In moments where words fall away and color speaks first, visitors are encouraged to confront their own questions before the paintings.

This special invitational exhibition, unfolding at the intersection of literature and art, is regarded as an opportunity to contemplate life through color and to reconsider the public value of art.