Artist reminds viewers of basic human values

 South Korean artist Yang Soon-yeol has long pondered the question of what basic values human beings should pursue. Her solo exhibition, “Leaning against a gatepost in the world of imagination,” currently underway at Inter-Burgo Gallery in Manchon-dong, Daegu, is a roundup of her thoughts so far. 

The Daegu-raised artist is showcasing 40 oil paintings, installations and sculptures. Her works cover varied human-value themes such as dreams, fantasy, love, happiness and even existence.

The most notable exhibit is the 8.6-meter wide and 3-meter tall oil painting “Dream & Love, SY Gallery,” to which the 52-year-old artist said she devoted at least 20 years of her career. She majored in oriental painting at Hyosung Women’s University in Daegu but also studied western paintings. In the single work depicting a fantasy-like world, Yang poured in all her painting techniques.

“The work is being shown to the public for the first time and I am excited that it is in Daegu, the place where I spent my youth dreaming of being an artist,” said Yang.

On the installation front, most are made of chairs, objects the artist is deeply interested in. She added unique twists to what could have been an ordinary everyday objects, such as the thin “X”-shaped wire in the place where there should have been a seat in the work “Father’s Chair.” It symbolizes many fathers who work endlessly for their families without resting.

A similar work, titled “Uncomfortable Chairs,” features three chairs which all appear to be slanted and out of balance.

“I asked myself, where would be an uncomfortable place to be, and realized that it would be where I have to worry about sickness, death, work, stress, money, etc. The chairs are where we seem to sit when we have those worries,” said the artist.

The exhibition is expected to be an opportunity to introduce Korean contemporary art to many high-profile international figures and press who will visit the city this month for an international sports event. The gallery is situated at Inter-Burgo Hotel where the preparation committee of the IAAF World Championships Daegu 2011, to open on Aug. 28, is located.

The exhibition runs through Aug. 13. For more information, call (053)602-7311.

By Park Min-young  (claire@heraldcorp.com)