Joonja Mornes

Artist Statement

"Earth, plants, water, sky, and air are my subjects
Color, movement, light and shadows are my words
I weave times of the day, month, and season into my painting
Landscape and waterscape, I hear their music and poetry
I write my music poetry dance in painting."

My inspiration mostly comes from watching nature during changes in light throughout the day and the seasons. The seasonal, temporal, and phenomenal changes are observed recalling the memories of growing up in Korea watching the rice fields in the countryside. The landscapes expressed in my paintings represent no specific place in the real world. My imagined landscape paintings harmonize my past memories of rice fields and present moments of the prairie with changing seasons and light.

In my recent series of paintings, I am creating a layer of text, mostly poems, as a base for the landscape paintings. Some of these poems have been used in music by various contemporary composers as well as those of the past. It is a way of recording selected items from the personal enrichment resources that contributed directly or indirectly toward making my own artwork. Although it may not be legible to others, it is meant as a visual element. I am interweaving poetry, music, and dance in my paintings. The timelessness, meditation, and preservation of the beauty of our landscape are essential parts of my work.

www.atelierjoonja.com