Gwangju gallery to run expat shows

Gwangju-based artist Doug Stuber will be holding an exhibition of expressionist paintings in the city’s PDG Gallery from June 22.

It is the first of several the gallery plans to put on featuring expat artists.

To create his paintings Stuber uses bowls of paint in usually two or more colors, which he then applies directly to the canvas to create abstract images.

“I try to ‘accidentally’ make shapes that people can relate to,” he explained. 

“Often they come out like unusual dinosaurs or strange animals, lately,” he said. “There’s no intention going in, but from a lot of practice at putting paint on quickly sometimes they just come out right.”

Stuber explained that the idea was that people would make their own decisions about what the painting represented.

“With a really good one different people see different things ― if it’s really good,” he said.

It is the first of several shows at the gallery by Gwangju Artists’ Collective members, as Stuber developed a relationship with gallery owner Kim Se-kyueng in which he helps plan exhibitions there.

Stuber, who curated for seven years at a gallery in Raleigh, North Carolina, says he is relishing the opportunity.

“I come up with ideas and some of them make it and some don’t,” he says. “And (Kim) has a great eye for art.”

Although he says it is not only about foreign artists, Stuber says he has shows lined up for Gwangju photographers Joe Wabe and Mark Eaton, as well as a group exhibition by the Seoul-based International Artists’ Collective.

He is also considering shows by Gwangju High School for the Arts and alumni of Chosun University in Gwangju, as well as other members of Gwangju Artists’ Collective.

He said that as many foreign artists did not have the volume of work in Korea to fill a show, even if their work was strong, group shows were a possibility.

Two artists will be performing at the opening of Stuber’s solo exhibition on June 22.

Performance artist Gim Gwang-cheol will perform. His recent performance at an event to commemorate the May 18 Democratic Uprising has built up Stuber’s expectations for Gim’s appearance.

“I had asked him a few weeks ago, before I’d seen his new work, but now I’m even more excited,” said Stuber. “I’m not sure what he’ll do, which is part of the fun.”

Angie Hartley, who has run dance workshops with two other choreographers at the Gwangju International Center for the past year, will be performing part of the “Far Flung” concert the trio held on May 25.

She will be performing an improvisation based on a structure made by fellow Gwangju troupe member Cindi L’Abbe.

“The literal idea of the structure is moving within a confined space, about 1 square meter,” she explained.

“The social or emotional translations of this are open to the interpretations of the audience.”

It will be one of Hartley’s last activities in Korea as she will return to the U.S. in August.

Hartley’s last project in Gwangju will be choreography for the Gwangju Performance Project’s production of the play “Why Torture is Wrong and the People Who Love Them” in the fall.

The exhibition runs June 22 to July 25 at PDG Gallery in Nongseong-dong, Gwangju.

By Paul Kerry (paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)