Breath and Beyond: The Existential and Transcendent Art of Jeong-Ah Zhang

In Jeong-Ah Zhang's work, one witnesses an intersection of existential inquiry, surrealism, and transcendental philosophy that reveals the essence of existence. Jeong-Ah Zhang, a Korean artist deeply invested in the philosophy of immanence and transcendence, creates images that are at once haunting and revelatory. Her visual language draws from the surreal and symbolic, addressing themes of existence, consciousness, and the invisible connections between life, nature, and the cosmos. Her works are a profound meditation on life’s impermanence and interconnectedness, reflecting both personal introspection and universal resonances.

Her statement, with its focus on life’s core values and the exploration of an expansive philosophical vision, underscores a search for a higher understanding. Jeong-Ah Zhang speaks to the philosophy that all beings are connected by an "essence of life," a transcendent "breath" linking the conscious and subconscious, life and death, visible and invisible. Through her unique style, Jeong-Ah Zhang translates these ideas into images that challenge and invite introspection.

In Transparent Time Scale, Jeong-Ah Zhang engages with the fluidity of time and the concept of transparency in memory. The piece, a mixed-media canvas, employs a balance between sharp and softened details that evoke the passing of time and the fading of moments. This visual tactic reflects her philosophical engagement with memory, presence, and absence. Jeong-Ah Zhang’s strokes and choice of colors generate an atmosphere of transcendence, where shapes appear to shift between visibility and obscurity. The layered effect brings to life a kind of ‘temporal transparency,’ where memories of the past intersect with the fleeting moments of the present, suggesting that each instant in time is a palimpsest of former experiences.

"The Visible World and The Invisible World No.4" This sculpture and photography hybrid speaks to Jeong-Ah Zhang's fascination with the dualities of existence—the physical and metaphysical. The piece juxtaposes tangible, recognizable forms with abstract, ethereal elements. Here, Jeong-Ah Zhang appears to be exploring the idea that what we perceive with our senses is only a fraction of reality. By using sculpture as a medium to create shadows and reflective surfaces, she adds layers of depth, pushing the viewer to contemplate not only what they see but also what exists beyond perception. This concept aligns with her belief in the connected cycle of "creation and extinction," a theme that resonates profoundly in the simultaneous materiality and transcendence of the piece.

In Breath, Air and Shadow, Jeong-Ah Zhang captures the ethereal nature of consciousness and the transience of life. The photograph, with its subtle contrasts and carefully modulated light, embodies her philosophical notion of “breath” as a link between the conscious and subconscious mind. The play of shadow and light here reflects Jeong-Ah Zhang’s belief in life as a series of oscillations between presence and absence. This work, in particular, highlights Jeong-Ah Zhang’s technical ability to manipulate visual elements to suggest philosophical depth, and it invites viewers to reflect on the fleeting nature of both breath and thought, as well as the cyclical pattern of life itself.

"6 Buttons and Multi-dimensional Structure". This acrylic piece reveals Jeong-Ah Zhang’s continued experimentation with multi-dimensionality, a core element of her exploration into the boundaries of perception. The piece's bold colors and abstract form embody Jeong-Ah Zhang’s philosophical musings on existence and non-existence. The titular "6 Buttons" suggest nodes or points of decision and interaction, emphasizing the idea of choice and agency within the boundless structure of the cosmos. This work brings a strikingly geometric balance to her portfolio, suggesting that the cosmos is not merely chaotic but ordered by unseen principles and energies. The piece invites viewers to consider their own place within this structured universe, resonating with Jeong-Ah Zhang’s desire to spark introspection.

"Mirage of Consciousness". In this large canvas, Jeong-Ah Zhang explores the fluid boundaries of reality and illusion. Painted with oil and acrylic, the Mirage of Consciousness blurs the line between dream and reality. Jeong-Ah Zhang's use of vibrant colors alongside muted tones creates an unsettling dichotomy, where forms appear to morph and merge, as if caught between worlds. This piece seems to question the nature of consciousness itself, aligning with Jeong-Ah Zhang’s view of reality as a construct, influenced by both the conscious mind and subconscious imaginings. Here, her art becomes a meditative experience, drawing viewers into a space where perception is fluid, challenging the viewer to confront their understanding of reality.

"A Low Voice". This acrylic work uses muted tones and delicate linework to convey a sense of quiet introspection. The title, A Low Voice, alludes to the often overlooked whispers of the subconscious. Jeong-Ah Zhang’s technique of layering delicate forms, veiled in muted colors, speaks to her belief in subtle energies that guide our consciousness. The piece is a testament to her philosophical approach to art as a means of silent reflection, a pathway to understanding the nature of thought and emotion in their subtlest forms.

The No-Boundary Moment reflects Jeong-Ah Zhang's exploration of unity and transcendence. The piece radiates an energy of boundlessness, embodying the Zen-like concept of oneness. Her brushstrokes blur lines and boundaries, evoking a dissolution of barriers between self and universe. Jeong-Ah Zhang's use of circular forms and interconnected motifs suggests a vision of the cosmos as a single, continuous entity. This work echoes her view that art is not only an exploration of the self but also a journey into the collective consciousness, resonating with her ideas of “awakening” and achieving balance.

In A Quiet Meal, Zhang plays with juxtaposition and surrealistic elements to offer a critique on consumption and existential hunger. The scene is both intimate and disturbing, capturing a lone figure in a dimly lit room, isolated with her thoughts. Here, Jeong-Ah Zhang uses food as a metaphor for the soul's nourishment, raising questions about what truly sustains us. The atmosphere of stillness within the piece evokes the quiet introspection that Jeong-Ah Zhang emphasizes in her philosophical statements, making the viewer aware of the complex interplay between external sustenance and inner peace.

Jeong-Ah Zhang’s art stands as a testament to the transformative power of philosophical contemplation translated into visual language. Her works are intricate tapestries of thought and form, each piece inviting viewers to step beyond the tangible world and engage with the unseen energies that govern existence. Her unique style—characterized by its surreal compositions, muted palettes, and symbolic forms—engages viewers in a dialogue about the transient nature of life, the vastness of the cosmos, and the intricate web connecting all things.

Jeong-Ah Zhang’s philosophical grounding in concepts of immanence and transcendence gives her work an additional depth, setting it apart within the contemporary art world. She does not merely create art to be seen; she creates art to be experienced, to be meditated upon. Each piece is a visual koan, a question posed to the soul that requires not an answer but a profound internal response. Jeong-Ah Zhang’s art bridges the conscious and subconscious, challenging viewers to explore their own perceptions of reality, existence, and interconnectedness.

Her art is deeply personal yet universal, reflecting her belief in “breath” as the link between all beings. The notion of breath, as Jeong-Ah Zhang describes, becomes a metaphor for life’s rhythm, a cycle of creation and extinction. This idea permeates her work, imbuing each piece with a sense of timelessness, as if they exist outside of the ordinary boundaries of space and time. Jeong-Ah Zhang’s art does not seek to provide easy answers; rather, it is an invitation to contemplate the mysteries of existence, urging viewers to listen to their own inner voice and embrace the eternal “flash point” of creation that she so eloquently captures.

Jeong-Ah Zhang’s work is a beacon of introspective art that transcends cultural and temporal boundaries. She has created a body of work that not only reflects her own journey of self-discovery but also resonates with universal themes of existence, consciousness, and the invisible connections that unite all living things. Her surrealist approach, infused with a deep philosophical awareness, serves as a reminder of art's power to awaken, to heal, and to reveal the profound beauty of simply being. Jeong-Ah Zhang's vision is one of eternal resonance, a continuous cycle of reflection, creation, and transcendence that encourages us to find meaning beyond the surface, within the very essence of life itself.

https://www.jeongahzhang.com

Jeong-Ah Zhang

Eriko Kaniwa

Petra Dippold-Goetz