By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
New York is widely considered as the art capital of the world. This is why thousands of young artists head to the city, hoping to make a splash in the art scene.
Sixteen young New York-based artists are introducing their works in Seoul this month. ``Over the Rainbow,'' a group exhibit at Yoo Art Space in Cheongdam, features 60 works by artists from the United States, Korea, Mexico, Canada, Japan and China. Curated by Song Si-sun, the exhibit runs through Nov. 23.
``The `rainbow' in the exhibition title suggests the promise and possibilities of the multicultural society that is New York City. It conjures up visions of an `American Dream' that lies somewhere beyond that multi-colored arc, an illusory reality of lofty dreams, bitter promises, and dashed hopes: the collective dreams of New York City, the United States, and the world,'' organizers said, in an exhibition statement.
The theme covers some of today's biggest issues, such as the Iraq war, global financial crisis, environmental problems and xenophobia. However, the artists manage to create pop art works that are bright, colorful and witty.
Participating artists include Alexander Reyna, Annysa Ng, Douglas Ra, Erika Harrsch, Ginger Brooks Takahashi, Hiroshi Kumagai, Jamie Allen, Jaye Rhee, Karina Aguilera Skvirsky, Lisa Dahl, Mike Houston, Martin Mazzora, Aegi Changsuk Park, SunTek Chung, Thomas Doyle and Daniel Baltzer.
Reyna, who was born in N'Djemana, Chad, created the installation, mixed media collage ``Big Money Now.'' He takes familiar corporate and cultural images, but subverts their original intended meaning and creates his own.