Mid-career artists attempt bold, new approach


Mid-career artists are usually identified by their own signature styles established over a number of years that gained them domestic and international recognition.

“Most artists concentrate on creating a solid, complete and consistent style. The mid-career artists in their 50s and 60s introduced in this exhibition also have pioneered their own paths for more than 30 years,” said Kim Sung-won, fine arts professor at Seoul National University of Science and Technology.

But a question arises: How can they reveal a new style, different from their known style, and express their hidden desires?

A new exhibition began last week to answer that question.

“SeMA Gold 2012: Hidden Track” showcases about 50 works by 19 artists including drawings, photographs, installations and videos at Seoul Museum of Art throughout the summer. 

“Viewers will discover a hidden side of artists and get to know more about them in-depth as well ― as if they were discovering a hidden track on their favorite musician’s album. For those who are unfamiliar with the artists, the hidden track will be the introduction to the artists and their works,” said Kim, who curated the exhibition.

The exhibition is part of the generational series SeMA started last year with emerging artists.

For the next year, the museum is planning exhibitions that sheds light on established senior artists.

The 19 artists are all men aged between 50 and 60. The notable absence of female artists is because there are few Korean female artists in their 50s and 60s, according to Kim.

The exhibition unfolds in the lobby of the museum with a black pavement by Hong Myung-seop intended to create a red carpet atmosphere that leads viewers to the world of artists’ hidden secrets.

On the right side of the lobby, Lim Ok-sang installed flowerpots of morning glories and nets that the plants can climb. Over the two-month exhibition period, the flowers will grow and cover the nets, creating a curtain of flowers.

The exhibition also features experimental works including Hong Sung-do’s “Air.”

Started with the artist’s idea of making floating sculptures, transparent pillow-shaped balloons containing everyday objects such as medicine boxes float in the middle of the exhibition hall.

Some works are being shown to the public for the first time.

Choi Min-hwa unveiled nude drawings that were drawn when they were censored by the government. The entrance of the small room containing the drawings has a sign that says entrance is barred for those under 19.

Familiar movie and sports celebrities are also frequent subjects of works by mid-career artists. Viewers will be surprised to discover that the athlete’s muscular back depicted in Koh Nam-beom’s “Grey Nuance” is that of soccer player Cha Du-ri.

Meanwhile, Whang In-kie’s “Once upon a time in Hollywood” features Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt portrayed as characters in an old painting.

SeMA will invite artists to talk about their works and ideas that form the exhibition with the public during the exhibition period. The talks are scheduled for July 17 and Aug. 7 from 5-6 p.m.

The exhibition continues through Aug. 26.

For more information, call (02) 2124-8924.

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)