Magician of light

Artist Jin Si-yon stands with his light installation "Flow" at E-Land Space in Seoul on May 14. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Jin Si-yon explores possibility of media art

This is the 11th in a series of interviews with notable artists recommended by the Korean Artist Project, an online platform promoting Korean art. — ED.

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Light takes center stage in the world of media artist Jin Si-yon, who pushes the boundaries of modern art using light and various other forms and materials.

The Gwangju-based artist majored in painting at university, but working as an assistant during the 1995 Gwangju Biennale changed his life.

"I was there to help artists install works — many of those were not paintings, which I learned in school. I was awed by the new forms of art of Bill Viola and Bruce Nauman. The thing that attracted me most was the moving images," Jin told The Korea Times.

Peugeot art car, a collaborative project of Jin Si-yon and the automobile company / Courtesy of the artist

So Jin headed to New York's Pratt Institute and studied "New Forms," which was a convergence program with students from various backgrounds. He developed interest in visual art using music, which initiated a new world for him.

Traditional media art refers to visual images on screen, but Jin's work employs light in a more direct way through LEDs.

"Media is light. You can see the media while there is light," he said. "Media art is often displayed in dark rooms, but I brought it outside to engage more actively with the viewers."

"Harmony of Light in Bamboo Grove in Hyanggyo-ri" by Jin Si-yon is a part of community art project "2014 Village Art Project" at Hyanggyo-ri in Damyang, South Jeolla Province. / Courtesy of the artist

"Wave," a single channel video screened on an LED display installed on top of a wavy structure, is one of Jin's earliest works testing the possibility of breaking out from the flat rectangular screen. "I want to connect the contents and the form of the artwork more closely and thought of presenting images on a curvy-shaped screen," Jin explained.

His major series work is called "FLOW," which reflects Jin's insistent attraction to light and movement. "In the beginning, I wanted to capture the light of humans and transform it into art," Jin said.

His first attempt was to design an LED costume for a dancer and record the movement. "I casted a Korean traditional dancer and recorded her performing a Buddhist dance. With long exposure, the shape disappears and only traces of light are left on screen," he explained. "It's like shifting bulb mode onto video images."

"Flow 37_Mae Hwa" is a video installation with lacquer-ware inlaid with mother-of-pearl.

Jin is an open-minded artist who is ready to collaborate with various partners — both artistic and commercial — to experiment on the possibility of his art.

"I am a man of curiosity and like to challenge new things. My collaborators always get me to do something new, something I haven't done yet," the artist said.

That is how he looks for the dancer and LED maker to work on his project. "Flow 37_Mae Hwa" is a video installation with lacquer-ware inlaid with mother-of-pearl. "I wanted to blend the artificial light coming from LED and natural light from mother-of-pearl," he said.

Part of Jin Si-yon's ditigal photography "Flow"

However, Jin cannot make lacquer-ware or a LED structure, so he has to ask around for collaborators. "I have to find the people who have the right skills to take part in my brainchild. Now I am more of a director who coordinates LED engineers, dancers and artisans," the artist said. "Most of them are similar to me — they are delighted to create something new with their skills, getting away from their old routines. This is where art meets technology."

He has also made media art for a commercial for cosmetics brand Sulwhasoo and automobile company Peugeot. Some of Jin's creations were screened on the 99-meter-by-78-meter media canvas on Seoul Square building, right across from Seoul Station.

"Some people may think too much collaboration would spoil the artist, but I look at it the other way round. It could provide a driving force for an artist to tirelessly attempt new ventures," Jin said. "Life is a journey and I collaborate with people from different fields, respecting what they have and what I can do best to create an impression."

His latest exhibit "Light Club" was held at E-Land Space, which doubles as a coffee shop on the first floor of the clothing company in western Seoul. The place is entirely different from a traditional white cube gallery as E-Land employees pass by the space to get a cup of coffee or meet customers.

"When E-Land first suggested to me to hold an exhibit here, I was immediately intrigued. Media is all about communication and my works can be shown anywhere where they can communicate with the audience," Jin said. "I installed ceramic lights in the show window to mingle with fashion. It is a small opportunity, but could be the beginning of a larger collaboration. I would love to do a media show for a catwalk."

Another project Jin ventured into last year was "2014 Village Art Project" at Hyanggyo-ri in Damyang, South Jeolla Province. The small town, which was once known for its bamboo craft, is now experiencing a decline.

Jin's project focused on what town was famous for: bamboo. He collaborated with local ceramists to create lighting bamboo on the rooftop of an old village hall and made studios in abandoned houses to encourage artisans. "It was an artist's direct attempt to play a social role," he said.

Jin's upcoming project is also something of a first. "I am preparing for an interactive media performance. In my earlier works, I captured the movement of a dancer wearing a LED costume and now I want the costume to be responsive to its surroundings. For example, I want to make a costume and background screen that react to a dance sequence," he said.

Jin continues to combine a wide range of artistic experiments. "Media can be cold and remote, but I want to approach it in a more humane, emotional way," the artist said.

That might be the reason why part of the "Flow" series is paintings of neon lights.

"Painting is in my roots and there is a texture of paint that cannot be replaced by media art. I wanted to keep the tangible sentiment," he said. "I am in between the generation of analogue and digital and this is what I can do."

For more information, visit www.koreanartistproject.com.