Meet new IAVA member Sabina HR Choi. We asked Sabina a few questions about her art practice.
What was your earliest memory of an interaction with art?
In my primary school, I liked to look at art textbooks given every new year. At home, there were pictures in calendars on the wall which mostly filled with traditional Korean paintings.
To see real artworks in person was from Salvador Dalí exhibition at the American cultural centre in Taegu, South Korea when I was 15 or 16 years old in high school. It was shocking and amazing experience for me to get to know something different from decent art.
How would you describe your art practice?
I love drawing with ink with pen or Calligraphy brush about daily encounters as visual diary. It could be some scenes from my morning walk and people in the public places such as cafes, waiting rooms, parks etc. Also, my dream, art movies and emotions related to my family can be my subject matter as well. My lines are so free but sometimes restrained as like Korean traditional paintings.
My favourite painting medium is acrylic, which is very practical, flexible and suitable for abstract painting.
Do you have a favourite artist and/or artwork? What is it that makes them your favourite?
Henri Matisse is my first favourite artist because of his steady drawing practice, bold design, harmonious colours and constant experiments about art making. The second is Milton Avery who was seeking the purity and essence of the idea expressed in its simplest form. In particular, I am fond of his portrait paintings. Thirdly, Edvard Munch came to me last year when my daughter got sick. One of his paintings, “The Sick Child (1097)” was so inspiring and led me to explore inner landscape. Finally, Heidrun Rathgeb is such a wonderful role model as a woman, mom and artist who draws and paints vividly about ordinary her life, four kids and landscape in small scale in Norway.
Most recent adventure or achievement?
During the second lockdown in 2011, I painted series of Frangipani bare tree standing in front of my art studio and one of them was included as a finalist at Flow Watercolour Prize exhibition at Wollongong Art Gallery. In January 2022, I got my painting, “The Duet” for the second place in figurative section at Kiama Art Society 43rd Annual Exhibition.
Any current goals you’re working towards?
This year I would like to paint in small scale and try to do almost everyday. Also, I would like to use digital medium fluently.
