Yunhee Min’s series of paintings on glass “Up Close In Distance,” are intimate studies in the reaction of two materials– transparent glass paired with pours of unmixed paints straight from the can. The use of enamel sign paint – traditionally used for commercial sign painting– on laminated glass results in intuitively composed paintings that exude a tangible sense of the viscosity of the paint and emphasizes the bright saturation of the colors on a reflective surface.

These works are the results of Min’s intimate studio work and studies for her Hammer Project in the lobby of the museum presented in 2019. Not previously exhibited, the works offer a glimpse into Min’s process of developing a large scale architecturally responsive installation, as such these works exemplify Min’s dexterity and inclination for artworks that are spatially attuned. The paintings are also spatially minded in their consideration of light and space –the luminosity of the paint shifts as one moves around the work and as the light catches the surfaces highlighting various hues and tones.

Known for her abstract paintings, these works by Min also signal a shift in her interests. Continuing an interest in improvisational abstraction from previous bodies of work, these new paintings embrace a material approach to painting, allowing chance, observation, and time to play a part in the making of her compositions through controlled pours. The resulting outcome is a group of works that highlight the nature of the paint itself, fluid and animate.