The Vital Impulse
For Jin-hyoung Son (Renason), the canvas is not a static plane of representation, but a dynamic arena of élan vital—the vital impulse. Through gestural sweeps, dripping resin, and an intense crimson palette, the horse emerges not as an anatomical subject, but as the physical manifestation of life's energy, movement, and continuous state of becoming.
"The horse is a companion of human history, a mythological symbol of auspicious energy. My painting captures the moment of raw movement, where color and line collide to restore the natural rhythm of life."
Selected Works
Artist Notes
Élan Vital
It is a term coined by Henri Bergson in his book Creative Evolution (1907). The phrase “élan original de la vie,” the flight of the essence of life, signifies the continuous eruption of flowing life. It describes a power source driving a significant growth that exists at the bottom of evolutions and changes.
Material: Neural Noise
“Neural noise” is defined as a randomized electrical signal that changes through nerves. It signifies an unconscious intuition or an unexplainable world. The artist names the technique “neural noise,” a method in which the artist brings the transcending creativity made from a randomized electrical signal to a canvas existing in the real world.
Arete Horse
A horse is a good-hearted animal that possesses both the energy of power and delicacy. Its sculptural appearance is the most beautiful among all animals and is the superior embodiment of Arete itself.
麒麟 / Qilin
A fantasy beast known as Kirin is a divine creature that directed and served as a symbol of a way of life for past leaders. Kirin is the leader of the most iconic benevolent creature group known as the Four Spirits in oriental mythology.
Élan Vital (Muse)
The form of a horse is the muse that offers inspiration, and it is the medium serving as the basis of the work projecting various images. My unique perspective on treating a horse as a motif is not viewed in the way of observing a subject but as becoming a human itself.
Exhibition History
Biography
Jin-hyoung Son (Renason, b. Seoul) is a contemporary fine artist with over 15 years of dedicated academic and professional practice. Her work operates in the fertile ground between abstract expressionism and symbolic representation, focusing on the horse as a sacred medium of vitality.
Son graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in painting from Kookmin University and a Master’s degree in painting from the General Graduate School of Hongik University. She won a prize at the Young Artist Exhibition at Seongnam Arts Center, held 7 major solo exhibitions, and participated in several group exhibitions in New York and Korea.
Education
- MFA — Hongik University, Painting Graduate School, 2015
- BFA — Kookmin University, Painting, 2004
Notes on Process
Art & Criticism
The Shapes Shown in the Explosion and Flow of Colors
A Self That Repeatedly Confronts Existential Questions Through the Form of the Horse
Gallery Inquiries
For original painting acquisitions, private commissions, and exhibition proposals, please contact the studio direct.