Art, reality TV begin strange coexistence
.jpg?w=728)
Suh Wu-tak’s “Whale”
By Kwon Mee-yoo
“Art Star Korea,” the country’s first reality competition show focused on contemporary art, aired its first episode Sunday on cable channel StoryOn.
Hosted by singer-turned-actress Jung Ryeo-won, the show’s first mission tasked 15 competitors to create an artwork that would challenge the public’s preconceptions about art.
The artists, many of them displaying offbeat personalities, presented works ranging from paintings and installations to a rap performance. Some of the works were difficult to interpret, but the artists were able to reveal their creative processes, helping viewers understand their meanings.
The most surprising work came from Cha Ji-ryang, who rapped in front of the judges, questioning the authoritative nature of the show and the art community.
A video he made featured some of his fellow participants and at the end of his rap, Cha requested that the judges eliminate him.
The judges, however, enjoyed the provocative performance and ranked him as one of the top three contestants.
Actress Jung Ryeo-won appears as the host in the first episode “Art Star Korea,” a television competition focused on contemporary art. / Korea Times
Kim Dong-hyung, a 27-year-old who has never formally studied art, won the challenge with an installation he created using black tape, a medium he often uses. Judge Woo Jung-ah said Kim’s work was simple yet poetic.
The program emphasized another important virtue — self-promotion. A piece of contemporary art work may seem preposterous, but the artist can sell it with a strong presentation, the hosts suggested.
Lee Berre, who created a tangible artwork in which visitors throw balls at face-like objects, failed to convince the judges about the quality of the work.
The first contestant to be cut, Lee Guk-hyun presented “In the Cube,” a series of photographs involving performance and painting, and called on the public to think outside the box about art. But the judges thought his work was confusing.
Ban Yi-jeong, an art critic who mentors the contestants, said the show’s purpose is to popularize contemporary art, not to discover a remarkable artist.
“I looked into how the winners of previous survival reality shows were doing and many of them were struggling to join the mainstream. However, whether it was fashion, cooking or dance, the genre earned immense popularity.
“I think that is what Art Star Korea can do,” Ban said.
Art Star Korea will air on StoryOn every Friday through June 15. For more information, visit artstarkorea.interest.me.