S. Korean artist's flights of fantasy

For the last month, South Korean artist Yang Mi Yoeun has been creating spectacular works of art that seem to jump out of the walls of the Alive Museum at Suntec City.

The 32-year-old, who has been painting for 12 years, used special techniques so her two-dimensional work created optical illusions to make the pieces pop.

"I had to keep stopping to take photos to double-check that the paintings would achieve the illusory effects," said Ms Yang, who spoke to The Straits Times on Tuesday with the help of a translator.

Optical illusion art museums, which have gained popularity since their launch in South Korea about five years back, have now popped up all over Asia.

They are based on the concept of "trompe-l'oeil" - French for "deceive the eye" - a visual art technique that tricks the eye.

Since arriving in Singapore in May, Ms Yang has painted 17 of the 82 artworks at the Alive Museum, which opened on June 21.

Her most challenging piece was a green, scaly dragon contorting its body, painted on three adjacent walls and a wooden arch overhead to look like a three-dimensional monster.

It took her a week to complete.

"It's very different from the human portraits and landscapes that I usually do," she said.

Runners who sign up for the ST Run at the Hub 2014 which takes place on Sept 28 will each get one ticket, worth $25, to the Alive Museum.

jianxuan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on July 11, 2014.
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