Colorful fabrics evoke emotion in art professor’s exhibit

by Joanna Sullivan
Staff Writer

Some art professors at GCSU not only act as teachers to their students, but as great forms of inspiration as well. TeaYoun Kim-Kassor, a professor of fiber arts, is no exception. She has a new art installation, “Modulations,” exhibited at the GCSU museum on Clarke Street and its vibrant colors and insight fill the gallery.
“I think it’s about how people’s lives are created by their memories and experiences. If you know, our lives are not created by one moment, there is a lot of overlap of experiences from people you meet to where you were and where you are. So all of this time and space create our lives,” Kim-Kassor said.
The artwork of Kim-Kassor has a distinctive quality, generally involving large fabric banners hanging from the ceiling. But as each installation series is created, a new message emerges and a new concept is touched upon.
“I was making a lot of serious installations (in the past) focusing on identity with who I am and who you are and now I wanted to express it through a more bright perspective. I wanted it to be a little more bright and colorful. That’s why I have chosen so many different colors,” Kim-Kassor said.
The installation is able to be walked through and can captivate the attention of the viewer, but instead of isolation and contemplation, the viewer is often overwhelmed with a sense of acceptance and joy.
“Most of my installations really invites viewers into the space so they will finish the installation. So without the viewer, I don’t see consider these pieces as finished work,” Kim-Kassor said.
Kim-Kassor worked on the installation for four months, forming new extensions of the Asian batik, which involves the use of paraffin wax.
“I planned really well before I started and I had to test all the different fabrics and colors and with how the acid dye reacts to others. It takes about three days to finish each one. The reason why I have chosen the polyester fabric is because the acid dye not only responds to the action of my painting, but also the fabric itself. So if I dye a little bit, I can control it,” Kim-Kassor said.
Her use of materials as well as the techniques she used contributed to the emotion and the significance of the work.
“If you see my choice of material, you can see through the fabric. You can see other panels or other objects and other people going around. So, you are talking to me and you are a part of my time so it overlaps,” Kim-Kassor said.
Kim-Kassor loves doing abstract work because of the mixed reactions that she will receive from her audience.
“I really enjoy talking to people and hear about how they see what they see and how they feel through my pieces. Some people are looking at faces or others are looking at airplanes. It’s totally different, it’s my memories, but it pulls out their own memories and experiences. I think that is the beauty of sharing work,” Kim-Kassor said.

Posted by Joanna Sullivan on Feb 12 2010. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry