Lee Yong-baek to represent Korea in Venice Biennale
By Ines Min
As the last of the domestic art biennales unveil their grand exhibitions and innovative themes, eyes are beginning to pull toward the periphery as preparations for the 54th Venice Biennale make way for the world’s largest art event.
Media artist Lee Yong-baek, 44, has been selected as the official representative for the Korean Pavilion of the 2011 showcase, organizer Arts Council Korea announced Friday.
The artist, who previously participated in the Gwangju and Busan Biennales, will be showing a collection of artwork from the past several years at the renowned international exhibition, which has successfully thrust local artists into the spotlight previously. His latest pieces show a continued diverging into mediums, combining painting, sculpture and mixed elements to create an immersive emotional experience.
Lee is best known for his single-video channel installation works and experimentation in various technological fields ― ranging from kinetic robotics to audio pieces. ``Angel Soldier’’ is one of his representative pieces that, at first sight, seems to be a still image. Upon closer inspection, the heavily florid picture separates before the eyes as an optical illusion, revealing three-dimensional flowers in the foreground and, behind, a soldier slowly creeping along, masked in the print’s camouflage.
``Broken Mirror’’ comprises a flat-screen TV, Mac mini and a mirror that has been pierced with a shot bullet. Multiple worlds of illusion and reality are created within the piece, leaving viewers with the question of what is substantial and what is ephemeral.
Lee’s ``Pieta’’ series combines political commentary with faith. Made in three versions ― love, hatred and death ― ``Pieta’’ shows two cast-molded figures posed in stances reminiscent of religious imagery, but following in the three themes: they are seen kissing, taking a martial arts stance and embracing in a final act before departure with death.
Arts Council Korea ― the official, permanent curator for the national stage ― also announced the selection of Yun Chea-gab as the pavilion’s commissioner for the biennale in late August. Yun was the executive director of the Arario Gallery until earlier this year and was also a director at the Alternative Space Loop.
The 54th Venice Biennale opens June 4, 2011, and will run through Nov. 27. This year’s architecture biennale in the Italian city also saw the work of leading contemporary artist Suh Do Ho, exhibiting with family members Suh Architects, with his fabric installation piece ``Blueprint.’’
The Korean Pavilion was first constructed in 1995 by architect Kim Seok-chul, as the 25th independent national stage. The 2009 biennale included a solo exhibition by Yang Haegue, while in the past special prizes were awarded to artists Lee Bul in 1999, Kang Ik-joong in 1997 and Jheon Soocheon in 1995.