Mason Mansung Kang

Mason Mansung Kang retired from 35 years of service in the petroleum business, at the age of 61, he decided to pursue his long-time dream to paint. As a Christian, Mason feels the awe and wonder of the divine providence he sees in every corner of this world. He thinks the world we live in is truly a beautiful place. Every natural entity is different and unique and this diversity makes the world beautiful. The visual changes of the natural world, with unending colors and values that exist in light and shadow over each season and over time, create variations of moods and emotions that always affect Mason’s mind. He struggles to observe these subtle colors, but also enhance the colors that are usually not noticed by untrained eyes. To share this beauty is the goal of his efforts. He has just begun to experience this in his own work and wants to develop his ability to paint beyond what he simply observes from life. Mason wants to show the exact feelings that he has while he’s there at the site. It has been always challenging for him to paint a scene that, at a glance, looked like there was nothing special. But while he was painting, he realized that nature always presents something beautiful that deserves painting. Even the small part of grass, sand, and the tiny stream on the pathway were enough for him to enjoy painting them. Mason may never be fully satisfied with the result of his work, but the beauty of this world keeps him seeking satisfaction and bliss through painting.

“I am always amazed at the beauty of the natural world we live in. What attracts me most are the scenes created by various dramatic lights and shadows. I want to paint these beautiful scenes myself in a unique impressionistic style that satisfies and fulfills me. I sincerely hope my successful works could ultimately present the viewers with a sublime sense of warmth, happiness, and contentment. My focus is neither realism nor abstraction in my paintings, but rather I just want to describe natural images as affected by various exciting lights and shadows. I present the environment in a way that is intentionally different from what photography can describe. My paintings are meant to be seen as ‘paintings’, and not as the imitations of ‘photos’.”