By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
When Scottish artist Martin Creed won the Turner Prize in 2001 for his installation ``Work No. 227: The lights going on and off," many were perplexed at how something as simple as an empty room with lights switching on and off could be considered fine art.
Creed has always confounded people with his minimalist art that often makes use of everyday objects. His first solo show in Seoul, on-going at the Art Sonje Center, Sokeuk-dong, offers a selection of his works throughout the years, including sculptures, drawings, audio and film, which are guaranteed to draw mixed reactions.
``His art brings maximum thinking through minimum work and draws worldwide attention with its properties contrary to overstating aspects of the visual culture of our times," the exhibition introduction stated.
Upon entering the hall, visitors are greeted by a stack of wooden beams (``Work No. 396"), while various sounds echo in the background. The lights turn on and off at 30 second intervals in ``Work No. 127: The Lights Going On and Off", while heavy black curtains open and close in ``Work No. 990".
```The Lights Going On and Off' shows a balanced state between affirmation and negation, something and nothing, through the repetition of the lights periodically going on and off," organizers said.
There are stacks of cardboard boxes (``Work No. 870") and black bean bags (``Work No. 796"), and a row of potted cacti arranged by height (``Work No. 960"). The monotone clicking sound that visitors hear is created by eight metronomes in ``Work No. 180: Largo, larghetto, adagio, andante, moderato, allegro, presto, prestissimo."
``Made up of common things we frequently meet in our daily lives, his work is made particularly outstanding by its composition. In his work, repetitive daily life becomes one with art. His art is conceptually draconian in a sense; and simultaneously impressive and simple. Often extremely humorous, the effect of his work depends exclusively on its viewers," organizers said.
Creed has numbered his works since 1987, and their titles are always descriptive. For instance ``Work No. 183: A sheet of paper torn up" features neatly ripped pieces of paper in a glass box, while ``Work No. 126: A sheet of paper crumpled into a ball" is a beautifully crumpled paper ball.
He also uses neon in his works, such as in ``Work No. 890: DON'T WORRY," which shows neon signs that read ― `DON'T' and `WORRY' ― in the corner of a room. ``It emphasizes each meaning through a dramatic effect. In this work, carrying a banal phrase, his daily reality and work intention stand out," organizers said.
The video installation ``Work No. 837," also known as the ``sick video," may not be for those with weak stomachs. Four monitors show people throwing up, quite vividly, inside a white space.
Creed has expanded his work to include performances. For the opening show, he presented ``Work No. 673" featuring a conductor and 18 orchestra members lined up according to the size of their musical instruments. In succession, they played the lowest to the highest note.
Creed was born in Wakefield, U.K., grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, and now lives in London. He studied at the Slade School of Fine Art at University College London from 1986 to 1990.
The exhibition runs through Feb. 12. Opening hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed on Mondays. Admission is 3,000 won for adults and 1,500 won for students. Visit www.artsonje.org/asc/ or call (02) 733-8945.