Young Korean artists think outside the box

Young Korean artists. They represent the future of this country`s art. And three exhibitions are clueing people into this future by a bunch of newcomers in the spotlight.
Burdened by globalization, and overexposed to the media, this new generation of artists fuses propaganda, modernization and tradition to create their own kinds of art.
From new takes on traditional landscape painting to a satirical look at the world`s top broadcasting channels, these young artists challenge pre-existing conceptions and inspire viewers to think outside the box.
For a look at the latest crop of Korean artists, take a trip to KT&G`s Sangsangmadang. Located in the Hongdae area, the stomping ground for hip young artists, this six-story complex is currently holding an exhibition of 60 young artists.
Step into the entrance of Sangsangmadang and dial 010-3144-4197. Choi Moon-suk`s "Mobile Car" (2006) will captivate you. One call to that number activates a little motorized cell phone car that whizzes across a winding track.
But the competition to dial can be heated because this artist`s work is a children`s favorite. And little toddlers carrying their parents` cell phones are already busy punching in the number to get Choi`s car going.
But Choi`s car isn`t the only creation worth taking in. The second and third floors are chock-full of fresh and innovative works.
The second floor, in particular, showcases a series of modern Korean landscape paintings. All executed on hanji, traditional Korean paper, these contemporary works use the foundation of the past to interpret the present.
Young artist Lee In-hwa paints a series of white cell phones on hanji. Each screen of each cell phone displays a famous traditional Korean landscape painting. But a closer look reveals that motorized fans, brand name bags and vacuum cleaners have infiltrated these sacred spaces.
Jang Ji-yoon explores the topic of teenage pregnancy in her hanji paintings. High school girls in their crisp, clean uniforms show off their pregnant bellies in Jang`s works. This artist leaves nothing to the imagination, but compels viewers to take in the shocking reality of now.
But it is Kim Ji-min`s "The oxymoron" (2007), a work displayed on the third floor, that truly surprises the unsuspecting viewer with its twisted look at consumerism.
A vibrant fish swirls across a folding screen. Oranges, sky blues and greys ripple across Kim`s fabric.
But all is not what it seems. Take a step around this folding screen and discover Kim`s secret.
The fish has been woven out of high-fashion clothing tags. Familiar brand names like Adidas pop out at the viewer, illustrating how consumerism has infiltrated daily life to the point where it has become the modern-day artist`s canvas itself.
After checking out the latest group of young artists, visit Doosan Gallery and Noam Gallery for a retrospective look at the hot young artists of 2007.
Hyperrealist paintings dominate this exhibition, which features the works of 18 young, high-profile Korean painters.
Kim Sung-jin`s fleshy close-ups of lips are on display at both galleries. And An Sung-ha`s super-glossy oil renderings of what appear to be chestnuts rolled in honey can be seen at Noam, alongside Lim Byung-guk`s tortured oils of wispy, dripping men.
Doosan features Choi Byung-jin`s pop art combo of Smurfs, sweet potatoes and a soy drink, along with Oh Byung-jae`s soothing "Great Relaxation" series.
After taking in creations by these established young artists, head on over to Arario Seoul gallery for a look at 26-year-old Zin Ki-jong`s first solo exhibition.
Having already made his mark at a group exhibition at the ZKM Center for Art and Media in Germany, this promising young artist shakes up the world of broadcasting with his cheeky critique of the media titans CNN and National Geographic.
Eight television screens embedded in a black wall greet visitors at the entrance. Showcasing Zin`s doctored versions of National Geographic, CNN, the History Channel and Al Jazeera, these screens bombard the senses with their familiar yet clearly synthetic images.
A styrofoam cloud and toy plane recreate the 9/11 terror in Zin`s take on CNN, while little plastic fish and a stuffed tiger decorate his National Geographic screen.
One step into the adjoining room reveals that everything airing on the screens outside is being filmed, real time, on little toy sets, inside. CCTV cameras are capturing everything, live.
Zin`s desire to film things as they occur wasn`t the only reason why he used stuffed animals and toy planes to build his own versions of these big-time broadcasting channels.
Zin wanted to highlight moments in news history that were ambiguous, shocking, or outright false, by using synthetic props.
He used fake animals for his take on National Geographic, so as to point out that this prestigious channel has been passing off studio shots of animals filmed in fake habitats as the real deal.
And he created his own version of Al Jazeera, using clips from a missile game simulation and a Nepalese guy as a news anchor, to question the significance of news.
"Is it news or a game?" Zin asks.
Good question.
To check out Zin, head over to Arario Seoul, located near Anguk subway station, Line 3, Exit 1. The exhibition runs through March 13. For more information, call (02) 723-6191 or visit ARARIO SEOUL.
Sangsangmadang`s "SeogyoSixty 2008: The Battle of Taste" is a two-part exhibit. Part one runs through March 16. Part two ends on April 20. To get there, go to Hongik University subway station, Line 2, Exit 5. For more information, call (02) 330-6223 or visit ´ëÇѹα¹ÀÇ ÀþÀº »ó»óÀ» ÀÀ¿øÇÕ´Ï´Ù. »ó»ó¸¶´ç..
Noam Gallery and Doosan Gallery`s "Retrospective 2007: Korean Young Painters" runs through March 13. To get to Doosan Gallery, go to Jongno 5-ga subway station, Line 1, Exit 1. For more information, call (02) 708-5050 or visit :::µÎ»ê¾ÆÆ®¼¾ÅÍ:::. Noam Gallery is located in Insa-dong, across the street from Starbucks. For more information, call (02) 720-2235 or visit noamgallery
By Jean Oh
(oh_jean@heraldm.com)




2008.03.04

North you always post interesting articles.

You tell us what's going in the backyards of the asian countries themselves rather than just the BS typical asian stereotype this or that. After a while that stuff gets annoying with the pua and angry asian man style junk on other forums. Nice reading intelligent articles for a change. Just wanted to say that!

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