20220831 Christine Bae Solo Show Episode#4

October 7, 2023

Solo Exhibition Episode:3 Viewpoints That Changed My Perspective

Staying in the gallery all day long can get a bit boring sometimes.
It’s quiet, repetitive… and frankly, it can feel isolating.
But then, the silence turns into delight when new people walk in—when they stop, look, and share their thoughts.
That’s when everything changes.
Let me take you back to one of those days.
There were three visitors who gave me feedback that really stayed with me.
Each saw my work through a different lens, and I’d like to share their perspectives with you.

1. Cropped Scene: A New Way of Seeing

A middle-aged couple stopped by and took time looking at the paintings. The gentleman turned to me and said,

“I’m quite impressed by your painting. The way you compose the canvas is very unique.”

He called it a ‘cropped scene’—and I knew exactly what he meant.

Let me show you what he was talking about:

Photo by © Christine Bae

In this painting, you can see how the subject isn’t fully shown.
For example, the dog’s shape isn’t complete—and that’s intentional.

You might wonder, “Why didn’t you finish drawing the whole dog?”
To me, beauty lies in what’s left out. Leaving space for imagination is more powerful than filling every corner of the canvas. Many painters tend to overfill their composition just because they've chosen a subject—but sometimes, excluding parts creates better balance.

So far, I’ve talked about ‘cropped’ in a literal sense.
But it also reflects a certain way of seeing—a viewpoint shaped by photography, composition, and selective focus. As artists, we play with framing the scene, like a chef choosing just the right ingredients. Some things must be left out so that others can shine.

Photo by © Christine Bae

That’s why I was genuinely grateful for someone recognizing that intention.

2. Potential Contemporary Painting: A Different Taste

The second memorable visitor was a gentleman in the music industry—a composer.
He came over and said something that made me pause:

“In this modern world, nobody likes dark paintings anymore. Just like people prefer simple furniture over a closet carved in rococo style.”

What he meant was that my work felt too dark and not modern enough. He said if there was one piece that was barely worth looking at, it was just that one—and nothing else. It was a painful comment to hear. Honestly, it stuck with me.
He pointed to one of my works and continued,

“If there's any piece here that feels contemporary, it's this one.”

Photo by © Christine Bae

The painting he pointed to was this one.
Maybe it’s because it combines geometric elements with traditional brushwork.
Among all my paintings, I guess this one is the simplest and most design-oriented.

Photo by © Christine Bae

Do I agree with him?
Honestly… I’m not sure.
His words made me reflect on what “contemporary art” even means today.
Minimalism, simplicity, design trends—they all play a part.
But does art always have to follow the rules of design? Or should it stand on its own, even if it’s a bit more complex, a bit darker?

I’m still thinking about it.

But over time, I’ve come to realize something: not every opinion is meant for me.
Everyone brings their own taste, bias, and perspective into the gallery.
And even the harshest feedback—if I let it—can be just another lens through which my work is seen.

3. Real Fine Art: The Brushstroke Matters

The most touching encounter that day was with a middle-aged woman who stood in front of my paintings for over 40 minutes.
She was quiet, focused—and then she said:

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen real brushwork. I’ve missed the fine art of fine art.”

I was deeply moved—not just because of her words, but because she was a seasoned artist herself, with over 40 years in the art world.
You can always tell when praise is real, and this was one of those times.

The next day, I saw her again.
She walked into the gallery with a big smile and said,

“Your paintings stayed in my mind all day yesterday. So I had to come back and see them once more.”

Her home was far away.
She drove over an hour through city traffic—on a rainy summer day—just to see my paintings again.

Can you imagine how that feels?
As an artist, just one person who truly sees your work is enough to make everything worthwhile.

Creating art is hard.
But meeting people who connect with it—that’s the joy.

Connect with My Art

Follow me on Instagram: @christine_baeks
Watch more on YouTube: Solo Exhibition Video

Thank you for Reading

Thanks for reading Christine’s Article.
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Author: Christine Bae

Who is Christine Bae?

I’ve been working as a full-time artist for seven years now.
As a professional painter with a passion for collecting great artwork, I’m excited to connect with people who share that same appreciation.

I don’t sell originals online, but I do offer art prints as a way to share my work more widely.
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