Gwangju artists explore diversity

A group of Korean and expat artists will hold an exhibition on diversity in Gwangju starting Aug. 25.

The exhibition was organized by Lee Hye-seong to bring expat and Korean artists together, something that she says does not happen enough.

Rather than focusing on how their differences can separate them, Lee says “Diversity” will encourage them to work alongside each other.

“The difference between foreign artists who have diverse backgrounds and Korean artists who studied in diverse places is expressed in ‘Diversity,’ and I want ‘Diversity’ to be accepted,” said Lee, who also works with Gwangju Artists’ Collective.

“However, if we embrace the differences in diverse existence, we would face diversity and abundance as gifts.”

Lee says the exhibition will explore how the participants themselves differ as people and artists.

“The exhibition will focus on existing diversity in the area of artists’ sexes, age, artistic fields, and materials,” said Lee.

The methods used are certainly diverse ― media featured by the 19 participating artists include painting, photography, video and wire sculpture.

Another way in which the artists differ is in professional background. Lee says she is thankful to the established artists that allowed her to use their work in the exhibition.

Lee points to two artists as representing the exhibition well ― Chosun University professor Jo Yong Shin’s video work, “Touch in Between” and Mark Eaton’s photography, “Dream.”

The former explores conflict, Lee says, while Eaton’s photographs symbolize a “peep into a different culture.”

“The contact between heterogeneous cultures causes conflicts and discord, but it is also the source of creation. ‘Touch in between’ visualizes these conflicts and discords with symbolic installation visual images,” she explains.

“Touch presents the possibility of a global common ground where heterogeneous cultures and strangers coexist in peace.”

Eaton, who has a separate exhibition on at the same time called “Summer,” which features compositions of water, will be showing three nude photos for this exhibition.

His interpretation of the theme is about exploring new things.

“Diversity is about stepping out of one’s comfort zone and to learn what other people think and feel,” Eaton says. “It is about opening hearts and minds. Opening up to another with the expectation that the other person will do likewise requires a willingness to be vulnerable.”

He says his work “Dream,” which will feature in the exhibition, illustrates the idea well.

“This is an East meets West theme that illustrates the vulnerability, hesitation, fear that often occurs when differing cultures and belief systems meet. It is my hope that my work will provoke thought, discussion and interaction.”

Eaton added that he would have failed if his work did not spur thought and discussion.

Lee says she is looking forward to seeing all the work in one place.

“Finding some Oriental influence to foreign artists’ works and foreign influence to Korean artists’ works will be fun,” she says. “Actually, comparing them will be fun, too.”

The exhibition will run at Eunam Museum until Sept. 8. Opening times are 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

By Paul Kerry (paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)