Sprüth Magers

On the studio floor lies a canvas, with wooden blocks on either side balancing a plank. Equipped with a wide brush, the artist moves intently along this narrow bridge as she performs a dance she describes as “thinking with her hands.” The paintings of Hyun-Sook Song demand this specific set-up, absolute physical control and a particular kind of meditative focus. Taking long, slow, deep breaths, she readies herself for the flow of methodical movements that translate into carefully placed, distinct brushstrokes. Hyun-Sook Song’s singular style and technique that blends the ancient medium of egg tempera with deliberate lines and forms that draw on East Asian calligraphy have come to define her decades-long practice. Monika Sprüth and Philomene Magers are pleased to present the artist’s first solo exhibition in the US at the New York gallery.