creativity through complexity

Lee Jang Sub is a Korean artist who has discovered, "that complexity is not uneasiness and disorder but rich aesthetic possibility and creative energy." In ComplexCity Seoul above, he is comparing the organic, apparently disordered structure of the discernible map of Seoul with the likewise, chaotic, yet harmonious structure of a tree, exposing a hidden order. This seems to me like chaos theory, wherein the complex are often shown to have in fact a surprising amount of order.

This piece from 'ComplexCity Lighting' shows a map of Rome, back-lit through traditional Korean rice paper, called Hanji.

Other projects involve an investigation of colour and pattern. The structure 'Space Titled Love' which he built with his brother Lee Hyo Sub, is intended for children, who are to experience the emotion of love and interact with the sculpture. It involves 10,000 of inter-locking paper dolls. Children were allowed to add and decorate their own any way they wanted to complete the work.

Space Titled Love
- 2007.07.28 ~ 2007.09.09
- 'I-design' for Kids / Kumho Gallery, Seoul, Korea / Invitation
- Paper doll, installation /
- Collaborative work with his brother Lee Hyo Sub

3, three
Personal work
- Poster design (840mm x 1188mm)

I also like The pattern from daily life which includes:

cabbage mandala
- Personal work
- 2005.9
- Pattern design

His videos of moving colour or kaleidoscopic films of poinsettias are mesmerizing. You can view these on his site. Here is a hint from some stills;

Laneige Colortherapy Project
- 2006.10~2006.11
- client : Laneige
- Collaborative work with Lee Hyo Sub

I'll be home for Christmas
- 2006.12
- 'Red Cube'/ Hangaram design museum, Seoul, Korea / Invitation
- Moving Image, Installation

tapestry of colour, gems & floating heads

Creature Comforts featured the work of LA artist Sarajo Frieden. This is someone who knows about textures, lines and colour, has a good sense of humour, and a whimsical thing for the birds. See what she has to say about colour:



Some of her work incorporates embroidery, like this:


stitched bird 4 (7.5”w x 11”h framed: 11.5”w x 15”h)


lady leaving chair (7.5”w x 11”h framed: 11.5”w x 15”h)


pinktree (gouache, collage on paper 28 1/2″w x 22″h)


green journey 2 (gouache on paper 23 3/4″w x 15″h 2005)

Recurring images include the "mini me", birds, trees, people dressed as cats, mushrooms, water, silhouettes, ship and gems. Which leads me to ponder, what is it with all the crystals in contemporary art, anyway?


jewelled bush (gouache, collage on paper 22.25″w x 24.5″h 2007)

Crystals appear frequently in a stylized network of lines and explicitly as gems.

These are the work of NYC artist Ramblin Worker (Steve MacDonald), whom I first found years ago on www.craftster.org. He also combines drawing and painting and sewing. For the record, most of his work does not contain disembodied puma heads- I just happen to really like them. Beyond the multimedia, these artists have something in common in their exuberant colours, lines and nets, and layering of pattern (as well as boats and natures as subjects). Some of the tapestries (I can think of no better word) are incorporated into 3D sculptural pieces.