Jang Seung-Hyo
Jang’s work transforms the two-dimensional into the three-dimensional in order to construct more scientific and spiritual notions of identity. The process of collecting images is reminiscent of recollecting memories. According to the artist, the accumulation of multi-layered images is actually “a kind of dedicated performance to visualize affection toward a woman.” Very personal. But the collaged photographs of his daily experiences act as common areas of recognition that ground his work in a shared reality, igniting unconscious associations in the viewer. The result is a rich infusion of individual memories and collective associations. Never intended to represent a specific story, his work occupies a gray zone. It is the zone of reinterpretation. Numerous fragments of plastic and photographs have metamorphosed into a hybrid being that challenges pictorial convention and stretches possibilities of mixing fragmented memories into a single entity.
Presenting a cacophonous composition of mechanical rigidity and organic fluidity, Jang’s new photo sculpture shows inventive negotiation between geometric abstraction and anatomical figuration. The abstract qualities in figuration and figurative qualities in abstraction are interwoven to create the unprecedented structure of images. Images become solid like muscles while structures become floating like images. The use of highly artificial combinations of shimmering, curvaceous cuttings makes his work look closer to a futuristic illusion, which adds materiality to images and very contemporary look to his work.
난 누구인가? 난 환상을 보며 살아간다. 내 마음이 읽어내는 환상을 마치 실제인냥 느끼며 살아가는 것이다. 세상 그 어느 곳에서도 난 실재를 만날 수 없다. 그래서 그런 나를 느낄 때마다 이토록 힘든 고독을 느끼는 걸까?
하지만 그 반대도 있다!! 환상을 보며 더 큰 환상을 꿈꿀 때가 그러하다. 그토록 시린 고독과도 맞먹을 행복이 다시 나를 움직이게 한다. 세상에 존재하는 모든 환상을 무한히 늘어나는 환상과 텅빈 현실을 오가며 비로소 나를 느낀다.
난 내안의 그 꿈들을 쫓아 끊임없이 나를 둘러싼 현실을 되새기며 살아가는 ‘인간’이다.
Education
2006 M.F.A, New York University in Sculpture, New York, USA
2004 Doctor’s course, Hongik University in Sculpture, Seoul, Korea
2001 M.F.A, Hongik University in Sculpture, Seoul, Korea
1997 B.F.A, Hongik Univercity in Sculpture, Seoul, Korea
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2008 <Dedicated Performance>, Art Space H, Seou, Korea
2007 <APOLLO & DAPHNE>, 33 BOND GALLERY, New York, USA
2004 <KOREAN 12 MUSE>, SEJONG CENTER, Seoul, Korea
2003 <RED DOTGABI>, CAR PARADE IN SEOUL, Seoul, Korea
Selected Group Exhibitions
2009 <Korea Tomorrow>SETEC , Seoul, Korea
<Hongkong Seoul Auction>, Seoul, Hongkong, Taiwan
<Larasati Auction, Hongkong
<Seoul International Photo Festival>, Seoul, Korea
<Korean Eye – Moon Generation>, Ssache Gallery, London, U.K
<Christi Honkong>, Hongkong
<The Image of Magic>, Hanmi Musium of Photo, Seoul, Korea
<Mad for Furniture>, Nefs Gallery, Seoul, Korea
<Cutting Edge>, Gana Art Center, Seoul, Korea
<SCOPE NEW YORK>, NewYork, USA
2008 <SINGAPORE ART FAIR>, Singapore
2007 <SCOPE MIAMI>, FL. USA
<MOON MAN>, NATIONAL SCIENCE MUSEUM- DAEJEON, Korea
2005 <From Berlin to DMZ>, SOMA MUSEUM, Seoul, Korea
<10 YEARS AFTER>, Insa Art Center, Seoul, Korea
2003 <SOUL OF FUTURE>, SEOUL MUSEUM OF ART, Seoul, Korea
<HI! SEOUL FESTIVAL>, SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT, Seoul, Korea
2002 <BIO MAN>, 2002 OSONG International Bio Exposition, Osong, Korea
<‘DRUM SOUND PF OZ>, 2002 SEOUL DRUM FESTIVAL, Seoul, Korea
2001 <SOUL OF POTTER>, 2001 World Ceramic Exposition, Yeoju, Gwangu, Icheon, Korea
<SOUL OF FUTURE>, Seoul Institute of the Art, Seoul, Korea
2000 <Walin-cheongang-jigok>, 2000 THE YEAR OF THE NEW ART – THE NATIONAL THEATER OF KOREA, Seoul, Korea
Awards
2003 Chungbuk provincial governor’s Citation – 2002 OSONG International Bio Exposition
2002 The Minister of Culture and Tourism’s Citation
1997 The 1st Open air Sculpture Award, GRAND PRIZE – The Minister of Culture and Tourism’s award
The 8st The Korean Figurative Sculpture Award, specially selected
Collection
Korean national science museum / The museum of Buddhist art
O-song international bio exposition center / The gallary Artspace H
Hongik university Private collections
