Just when one has read enough about “operational command”, Mr. Lankov’s insightful explanation of why Korea has not been the perennial victim of foreign powers and distorted “perceptions”, here is one reason why South Koreans seem to have a distorted view of themselves and the world, or at least it seems that way. This is actually a bit of work from the artist Lee Hyung-koo (in Seoul) who is obviously having fun with his work in distorting reality (this sounds oddly familar!).
Here is an excerpt from Mr. Lee’s exhibition:
From Marcel Duchamp’s “Rrose Selavy” series to Orlan, the artist’s self-portrait has come to represent the socio-cultural context of the individual as much as it depicts a dimension of the artist’s consciousness or psychology. Duchamp’s transvestite alter ego Rrose allowed his to explore volatile gender issues of the early 20th century. Orlan, using her own face as the media and the scalpel as the tool sought the vanity of vanity, the ideal of beauty that can only be sought and never attained. Following these two great artists’ lead, Hyungkoo Lee created a distorting transparent plastic helmet to make his self-portraits. This helmet is fitted with interchangeable concave and convex lenses which shrink, expand and distort the features. This exquisite headgear allows the wearer to engage in all normal daily activities: Listening breathing, smelling even smoking. . .
Perhaps this essay also explains the “socio-cultural context” that allows the most perverse explanations of reality and history to thrive in Korea?
Lee Hyung-koo’s work was exhibited at a really nice gallery space, Arario Gallery, located in Arario Small City, located at 354-1, Shinbu-dong, Cheonan City, Chungnam and is quite impressive. Do drop in and take a look at their exhibits and space.
6 Comments
Good to see someone posting on the arts here. As westerners, we don’t learn about much except (a) contemporary movies, and (b) KNTO-sanctioned traditional handicrafts.
…That photo is (deliberately?) freaky, though!
When do the perception-distorting pants come out? I am considering teaching English abroad and I believe they might be useful.
“Perhaps this essay also explains the “socio-cultural context” that allows the most perverse explanations of reality and history to thrive in Korea?”
Anything that helps us to not have to face the reality of death is going to thrive. “I’m this, I’m that, I’m curious, I’m from here and you’re from there….” etc
Excellent post, R.Elgin. Korean artists are doing some interesting, world-class stuff.
Yes Michael, like in other places too, the number of cool people who are doing interesting things is small.
At least Mr. Lee’s work is more interesting than the work of a certain Sejong Arts Center administrator who is currently under investigation for sexual harrasment. (for real) The word on the street is that the guy is even taking bribes, thus I suspect he may have to resign for “health reasons”. That is not my kind of “performance art”.
You’re more up on the latest than I am–although the Sejong guy just sounds like the average gov’t official in Korea, unfortunately. I did hear that Kim Chang-il is creating a little empire with galleries in Beijing and London as well as Seoul.