Um’s practice explores everyday fragments and transforms them into fantastical situations or melancholic moments of isolation. This self-reporting exercise reflects his ideas, interests, and impulses, while also speaking to this quality. Similar to unfolding novels, Um’s paintings reveal narratives akin to those plucked from children’s picture books – portraying solitary beings in wondrous landscapes enthralled by their own reverie. The story is told through streams of consciousness, letting the rhythm of the emotions dictate the pace of the painting and employing techniques from his background in illustration to craft compelling visual stories. The process ultimately produces multiple layers of history and leaves trace of realization and regret – it is both additive and reductive. Daniel Um (b. 2001) was born in Seoul and currently lives and works in New York City.
Haynes’ work renders frozen intimate moments of friends and family. Whether with oil paint or colored pencil, Haynes captures transient moments of human existence and highly, emotionally charged works with those in his most cherished circle, casting an even more intimate light on his pieces. The introspective beauty present in these everyday snapshots is one of calm serenity. Subjects tend to be found in isolation depicting scenes of loneliness. Haynes’ work calls to mind artists such as Pierre Bonnard and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Rowley Haynes (b. 1996) received his BA from the Glasgow School of Art and graduated in 2022 from the Royal Drawing School. He lives and works in London.
