Artists interpret human body into art

Artist Jeong Geum-hyung poses at Atelier Hermes in southern Seoul where her solo exhibition “Private Collection” is held. / Courtesy of Atelier Hermes

By Kwon Mee-yoo

The human body has been one of the most important inspirations for artists throughout the ages. Two artists from very different generations and backgrounds are using their body in pursuit of art in very distinctive ways.

Lee Kun-yong, 74, was the pioneer of experimental art in Korea back in the 1970s. An exhibit sheds light on the artist's earlier works of performance art using body and movement as a reflection of the social conditions of the time.

Lee's exhibit "Event-Logical" at Gallery Hyundai features his signature "The Method of Drawing" series as well as photographs of his performances "Snail's Gallop" and "The Logic of Place." The term event-logical combines the two words that cannot co-exist but Lee used it to refer to his performances.

Lee's "The Method of Drawing" is translated as body drawing in Korean as the artist questions the fundamentals of drawing with physicality. Unlike traditional painters who face the canvas to draw, Lee places the canvas behind himself and moves his body to create the drawing.

Photography of Lee Kun-yong making “The Method of Drawing 76-2” / Courtesy of the artist and Gallery Hyundai

"The body is the most important and essential artistic medium. That the body of an artist in particular is indeed capable of being the most effective and direct medium," the artist said.

Lee referred his younger self as LeeKY, which comes from his autograph, separating the young artist from his holistic self. "LeeKY made a groundbreaking discovery in the history of painting. He opened a new, anthropologic prospect in the field of fine art," Lee said.

He said anyone can do the physical drawing of "The Method of Drawing." "Try it at home. But you never see what you draw. Move your body, turn around and see what your body created," the artist said.

The exhibit is on show through Oct. 16. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.galleryhyundai.com or call 02-2287-3500.

Human body and object

Artist Jeong Geum-hyung, the recipient of the 16th Hermes Foundation Missulsang, unveils her quirky collection of objects at a new exhibit titled "Private Collection."

Previously, the Hermes Missulsang exhibit featured three candidates and a winner was announced during the show, but only one winner is awarded starting last year to better focus on an individual artist. Jeong, who won the award last year, spent four months in Paris through a residency program provided by the French fashion house's foundation and came up with this exhibit.

Jeong is an interdisciplinary artist often described as a choreographer, dancer and performer known for performances such as "7ways" (2008), "Fitness Guide" (2011), "CPR Practice" (2013) and "Rehab Training" (2015). The artist is known for exploring the relationship between human body and objects. Her performance juxtaposes movements of human body and various objects such as workout machines with suggestive sexual encounters.

However, in "Private Collection" the items are displayed in very traditional museum style despite the artist's performative nature.

Curator Kim Yun-kyoung said the objects on display are part of Jeong's daily life and organized in an order devised by the artist.

"It's like looking into the artist's brain. Jeong communed with these objects and the exhibit unravels her desire in the context of collecting and possession," Kim said.

The 250 objects on display range from sex toys and head models to a treadmill and drones. The exhibit begins with two videos ― "Commercial Clips (purchase considered)" and "Commercial Clips (purchase completed)" ― to give a glimpse of how Jeong's collection begins.

"Shopping is an important part of my work process and these things became a collection of mine. I choose and purchase an object planning to perform something, but usually it doesn't go as I thought it would. So finding the way of operation is quite interesting, especially when the result is beyond my expectations," Jeong said.

The artist will give a tour of the exhibit on Sept. 10 and Oct. 8. Reservation is required for the artist-led exhibition tour.

The exhibit runs through Oct. 23. Admission is free. For more information, visit maisondosanpark.hermes.com or call 02-3015-3258.