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“Salim” is one of Yang Hae-gue's three works to be displayed at the Korean Pavillion. / Courtesy of Galerie Barbara Wien, Berlin & Kukje Gallery, Seoul |
 By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Artist Yang Hae-gue will unveil her newly commissioned artwork ``Condensation" at the Korean Pavilion of the 53rd Venice Biennale, which opens June 7.
Yang, the first female artist to hold a solo exhibition at the Korean Pavilion, made three new works in sculpture, video and installation. The exhibition is curated by Eungie Joo, who is also the curator of education and public programs at the New Museum in New York.
``In the exhibition `Condensation,' Yang explores hidden spaces that might be considered marginal, but to the artist constitute profound backdrops for understanding: vulnerable sites where informal development can occur. Using condensation as a metaphor, Yang seeks direct communication with unknown people through a seemingly intangible path of exchange ― one that imparts nonfunctional yet ontologically significant information," Art Council Korea said in a statement.
One of the works is a video essay titled `` Doubles and Halves-Events with Nameless Neighbors." Yang took footage of two neglected areas, the neighborhood in Ahyeon-dong, Seoul (where she used to live) and the Venice Biennale grounds during the off-season. She juxtaposed non-synchronous voiceovers in Korean, English and Italian, with visuals of the residents and activities in the two areas.
``The artist speculates on the experience of disappeared inhabitants in order to consider the unwanted-ness and resonance of marginal spaces," organizers said.
Yang recreated a full-scale model of her kitchen in Berlin for the piece ``Salim," which is translated from Korean as ``running a household." She looks at the kitchen as the place to prepare for action and organize one's life.
Yang was quoted as saying her kitchen is ``free from many of the things that are attributes of the ordinary concept of work in terms of social effectiveness/productivity," creating a different connection to the outside world and to her work.
However, the main work is the installation ``Series of Vulnerable Arrangements ― Voice and Wind." The ambitious piece involves stacks of Venetian blinds, six ventilators that will generate wind and scent emitters to create a heightened sensory experience for visitors.
``As in previous works and her new light sculptures in the `Making Worlds' exhibition, in `Voice and Wind,' Yang introduces electricity as an invisible connection between objects, people, and ideas," Arts Council Korea said.
The 38-year-old Yang obtained her bachelor's degree in fine arts from Seoul National University Fine Arts College in 1994 and her master's degree from Stadelschule Frankfurt am Main in 1999.
``Yang is one of the most noteworthy artists in Korea now," Joo said, in a press conference last December.
Many of her works have been displayed in international exhibitions in locations such as Utrecht, Pittsburgh, London, Sao Paulo, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Bilbao.
Arts Council Korea established the Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale in 1995, with the aim of providing a platform to showcase contemporary Korean art to the world.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr
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yistory@koreatimes.co.kr
