Photo by Glen Vigus
ARTIST STATEMENT
In the context of today's AI and Big Data, concerns arise about their impact on traditional art forms such as painting and drawing: Does new technological advancement diminish the significance of art and artists?
In this project, I argue that these traditional forms will retain their importance, much like they persisted during the advent of the camera age. Through my artwork and research, I aim to redefine the role of art in the era of AI and Big Data. In doing so, I revisit the age-old and ever-relevant debate about the relationship between art and reality, aiming to demonstrate that art does not necessarily distort reality or understanding of realities if it incorporates actual and scientific data in its presentation. Put differently, I show that art can even be used as a fact-checking tool if the art is representative of the object it describes as well as the actual data related to the topic of the represented objects. I utilize computer programming languages such as Processing and R alongside data generated from scientific research to draw patterns and integrate them into representational painting.
This approach allows audiences to interpret art infused with engraved facts, fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter. In this way, I argue that art does not alienate people from ideals and truth but rather enables appreciation based on facts and truth. Particularly, amidst the era of Fake News and Fake Images, I encourage contemporary consumers of art to reconsider the role of art.
BIOGRAPHY
Hyohyun Lee a.k.a Sophie is a Korean artist based in College Station, Texas, and St. Louis, MO. She was trained in traditional Western painting from an early age and used to work as an art instructor and book designer for many years in Korea. After she moved to the U.S. in 2017, she decided to start the journey as a painter again.
In her work, painting is the main medium. She also makes patterns driven by data and other multimedia as vehicles and inscribes the pattern into the painting to communicate with viewers. Her themes revolve around how people perceive the world surrounding them.
She received a BFA from Ewha Womans University in South Korea. Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Visualization from Texas A&M. Professionally, she teaches courses in digital media, painting, life drawing, and digital painting at Texas A&M as an Instructor of Record (IOR). She specializes in teaching techniques and skills in drawing and painting with diverse mediums from basic level to advanced level.
She participated in regional exhibitions, including the Vignette Art Fair 2022 in Dallas, Texas.