Currently at K. Dees Coffee through May 31st, art enthusiasts will find paintings on paper by Jong-un Choi that are striking and complicated studies in intersecting and crisscrossing perspectives.

A colorist would surely be at home while viewing these 11 paintings. Pinks, reds, yellows, lime greens and lovely violet hues bounce off the walls.

One will be drawn first by the intensity of color, but then the complexity of design and layout will become dominate. Choi has created perspectives from multiple angles that demonstrate layer upon layer of architectural space. Yet, these precisely painted straight-edge geometrically vivid executions remain soft and velvety to the eye. This is due to a wonderful handling of paint on a softly textured oriental rice paper.

All of the paintings in this lovely show are entitled SPACE, followed by the painting's dimensions.

In SPACE 36 X 14, color shifts from a cool green to warm orangey yellows ending with very pleasant yellow ochre. In this piece, the geometric space is more defined by color than linear separation. If viewers will take the time to stare at a single piece for several minutes, they will be rewarded with vibrating colors that will leap off the painted surface.

SPACE 28 X 24 demonstrates this optical quality. The bold pink sharply-edged shapes seem to leap off the paper. Again, viewing patience must be employed. In a venue such as this, one most not be distracted from the viewing of each work of ar by the presence of coffee drinkers and laptops. I realize that standing very near an occupied table becomes an exercise in the balance of the close observation of visual art and the interruption of another's personal space.

The highlight of the show is SPACE 24 X 12. There is a Midwestern flavor to this attractive work. The orangey-red structure that dominates this painting takes on the motif of a barn that is topped by a cloudless sky of blue. One will observe projecting roof angles and parallel elongated rectangular shapes that appear to be sheets of wood that play with our normal sense of perspective. The artist adds another optical dimension to this piece by employing a quiet yet surprisingly active pink value that runs through the right side of the painting.

This delightful exhibit is yet another reason to enjoy our great downtown with its mix of shops and eateries that cater to the "art eye" in all of us.

Contributing columnist Tom Shafer provides insight about interesting art exhibits throughout the Greater Lafayette community. He may be reached at orieshafer@hotmail.com