"Multiplicity of Contemporary Art from South Korea (≠ South Korean contemporary art)" Exhibition
RYAN LEE
This event has ended.
Mary Ryan Gallery presents an exhibition of works by 5 contemporary artists from South Korea to exemplify the dynamic, multi-faceted art practices that have been developing there for the past decade. Unlike some contemporary art from Asia popularized in the West, including art from China and Japan, contemporary art from South Korea has been overlooked. One of the main reasons for this is the lack of a cohesive and unifying aesthetic that can be easily categorized. Without an overriding "look," viewers must only rely on the individuality of each of the artist's work and their individual names to remember, difficult when the names are outside the mainstream Germanic/Romance languages of the West. The title of the exhibition, 53 illustrates the multiplicity that makes contemporary art from South Korea a microcosm of the international art scene. It stems from the idea of showcasing 5 different artists x 5 different mediums x 5 different conceptual issues. Artists from South Korea create installation, draw, make video, perform, produce sound, paint, photograph, etc. They tackle issues ranging from consumerism, feminism, formalism, identity, language, politics, religion to issues of the everyday. The "Korean" aspect found in their works is evident to varying degrees but is not the end-all; for some it is a mere biographic note.
The recent proliferation of art fairs, international biennials, and galleries in South Korea have created a rich and vibrant contemporary art scene. The 5 emerging artists included in 53, (some exhibiting in New York for the first time) - Jungju An, Sangbin IM, Shin Il Kim, Jiha Moon, Heeseop Yoon--are well versed in the current "international" trends in contemporary art. These 5 artists, all born in the 1970s, grew up at a time when South Korea experienced tremendous changes. Some were too young to remember the military dictatorship that came to an end by 1987, but all benefited from the rapid economic growth that occurred after Seoul hosted the 1988 Summer Olympic Games as well as the newfound freedoms under a more democratic government. Through a variety of available opportunities presented in this newly industrialized country, these 5 artists have been able to study, live, and/or travel to countries around the world, allowing themselves to become fluent in the global art practice.
Media
Schedule
from June 18, 2009 to August 28, 2009
Opening Reception on 2009-06-18 from 18:00 to 20:00