The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Korea's Coast Guard apprehends 22 Chinese after illegal entry attempt

  • 3

    Ruling party vows to investigate China's alleged influence operations

  • 5

    TREASURE takes flak for excluding Dokdo from its Japan tour map

  • 7

    SEVENTEEN's unique approach to artistry: A deep dive into self-production and collaboration

  • 9

    Koreans' happiness rising slowly but surely: presidential panel

  • 11

    Korea wins gold medal in men's team Go

  • 13

    Korean shipbuilders seek lead over Chinese rivals in selling LNG carriers to Qatar

  • 15

    30 out of 74 major financial companies lack female board member

  • 17

    Traffic on major expressways eases on final day of holiday

  • 19

    BTS' Jungkook to release first solo album 'Golden'

  • 2

    Public transit fares to increase in Seoul and Busan this week

  • 4

    Genesis GV80 Coupe looks to compete with Mercedes-Benz, BMW

  • 6

    Korean steelmakers on alert over initiation of EU carbon border tariff

  • 8

    Block Party returns to Yongsan for 2nd year

  • 10

    Korea crashes out of medal contention in men's basketball

  • 12

    Pilot dead after civilian helicopter crashes into reservoir in Pocheon

  • 14

    Dream-pop band Nice Legs revisits Korea for Block Party

  • 16

    Dong-A Socio Group’s honorary chairman passes away at 96

  • 18

    Hyundai, Kia to extend earnings rally on strengthening dollar, solid sales

  • 20

    Lawmakers want chairmen of financial firms held accountable over misconduct

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Thu, October 5, 2023 | 08:22
Arts
Othoniel's glass work reflects joy, sorrow of life
Posted : 2021-01-04 12:56
Updated : 2021-01-04 17:11
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Installation view of Jean-Michel Othoniel's 'New Works' at Kukje Gallery in central Seoul / Courtesy of Kukje Gallery
Installation view of Jean-Michel Othoniel's "New Works" at Kukje Gallery in central Seoul / Courtesy of Kukje Gallery

By Kwon Mee-yoo

French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel, who interprets delicate and subtle colors of glass into resplendent sculptures, is sharing what he's come up with during the COVID-19 lockdown with Korean audiences.

At his solo exhibition at Kukje Gallery in Seoul, Othoniel unveils his latest glass brick works as well as his rose paintings and glass sculptures created in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the glass pyramid of the Louvre.

"I think the power of art is also to invite us to escape the reality," the artist said in a video message.

Works from the Othoniel's latest glass brick series "Precious Stonewall" combining different colors are on display at the gallery's new space with corner windows facing the streets of Samcheong-dong and Gyeongbok Palace.

Installation view of Jean-Michel Othoniel's 'New Works' at Kukje Gallery in central Seoul / Courtesy of Kukje Gallery
Jean-Michel Othoniel / Courtesy of Kukje Gallery

"It is very specific ― I started to draw eight months ago when we were all in our houses alone," Othoniel said, explaining how the new idea popped into his mind during the pandemic.

"It's like a diary of drawings, playing with this idea of changing color and very minimalist language. It was a very important period for me because I came back to my first love in art ― minimalists such as Donald Judd and Carl Andre," he said. "When I was very young, I had a chance to be in a city where the museum was dedicated to those artists from the 70s. And I saw those artists when I was very very young and really my first emotion in art was with those very minimal sculptures."

Returning to his first love of art, he drew the sketches of glass bricks and created this "Precious Stonewall" sculptures in dialogue with Indian glass artisans. The series' title is borrowed from the historic Stonewall Riots in 1969, a catalyst for the LGBTQ rights and equality movements.

The glass brick sculptures come in a variety of color combinations and Othoniel described them "talking to each other." This is the first time for the artist to mix different colors of glass bricks for a piece. With natural ample light, along with calculated lighting, the glass brick pieces leave flame-like reflections on the walls while reflecting the viewers.

"It's a very contemplative sculpture and I hope you would take the time to enter this realm you can feel in the show," the artist said.

Installation view of Jean-Michel Othoniel's 'New Works' at Kukje Gallery in central Seoul / Courtesy of Kukje Gallery
Jean-Michel Othoniel's "Precious Stonewall" (2020) / Courtesy of the artist and Kukje Gallery

In the center of the room is another new piece "Stairs to Paradise," representing humans' unceasing efforts in the form of a staircase, also devised during the lockdown.

"It is a way to show utopian architecture I brought into my work today. You may know The Big Wave I did some years ago, which was real architecture, which evokes the beauty and power of nature at the same time," he said.

"The idea of Stairs to Paradise is more to bring a message of hope and joy ― Let's be born again and make a view vision for the new century. It is also a way to escape this moment we are all facing during COVID-19 which is very stressful."

Also on view are a series of lithography based on Othoniel's drawings, which gives a glimpse of how the artist's idea takes shape from drawings to sculptures.

Installation view of Jean-Michel Othoniel's 'New Works' at Kukje Gallery in central Seoul / Courtesy of Kukje Gallery
Installation view of Jean-Michel Othoniel's "New Works" featuring the artist's "La Rosa du Louvre" series at Kukje Gallery in central Seoul / Courtesy of Kukje Gallery

Another room is dedicated to "La Rose du Louvre," a series of works created in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the glass pyramid of the Louvre in Paris.

"The Louvre invited me for a show to celebrate the anniversary and on this occasion, I made a book about secret meanings of flowers in paintings L'Herbier merveilleux," the artist said. "From this book, I did a series of paintings inspired by the rose in Wedding of Marie de Medici to Henri IV, which is an amazing painting by Rubens, to celebrate her wedding."

With the symbolic rose of the world-class museum, Othoniel created six paintings using black ink on white gold leaves in 2019. The paintings are now permanently installed in the museum's Cour Puget, along with the masterpiece sculptures of the 17th and 18th century.

"In the show here in Korea, I decided to continue the series of the paintings, so you have the full series of the old paintings inspired by the rose of the Louvre," he said. "I made four sculptures in continuity with the paintings. Usually I'm working like that ― I first make watercolor, then paintings and then sculptures. Here you have the full process of my vision of those roses in paintings and also in volumes."

The sculptures are made with glass, mirrored glass and stainless steel, reflecting the whole room.

"It's a very lively series of sculptures. I also relate them to the ideal of infinity and movement. This fits very well with the surroundings ― you have this energy in the painting and the same energy in the sculptures," the artist said.

The exhibit runs through Jan. 31.


Emailmeeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
LG
Top 10 Stories
1POSCO Future M, LG Chem, EcoPro BM hit by plunging lithium, nickel prices POSCO Future M, LG Chem, EcoPro BM hit by plunging lithium, nickel prices
2Gangnam gears up for festival showcasing various K-culture events Gangnam gears up for festival showcasing various K-culture events
3North Korea lays groundwork for US disarmament talks: experts North Korea lays groundwork for US disarmament talks: experts
4South Korea to found cyberwarfare reserve forces in 2025 South Korea to found cyberwarfare reserve forces in 2025
5Samsung targets mid-range market with affordable S23 FE Samsung targets mid-range market with affordable S23 FE
6Bank of Korea takes first step to adopt centralized digital currency Bank of Korea takes first step to adopt centralized digital currency
7Seoul's parks abuzz with fall festivals Seoul's parks abuzz with fall festivals
8Task force planned to prevent opinion-rigging on Daum portal Task force planned to prevent opinion-rigging on Daum portal
9Seoul to invest W5 tril. to become fintech powerhouse Seoul to invest W5 tril. to become fintech powerhouse
10Seoul stocks tumble on concerns over Fed's prolonged monetary tighteningSeoul stocks tumble on concerns over Fed's prolonged monetary tightening
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Crime thriller, romance series set to roll out in October Crime thriller, romance series set to roll out in October
2Korean literature featured as animation works at Incheon Airport Korean literature featured as animation works at Incheon Airport
328th BIFF opens with star-studded red carpet event28th BIFF opens with star-studded red carpet event
4[PHOTOS] Kep1er returns with 'Magic Hour' to mesmerize fans PHOTOSKep1er returns with 'Magic Hour' to mesmerize fans
5TREASURE takes flak for excluding Dokdo from its Japan tour map TREASURE takes flak for excluding Dokdo from its Japan tour map
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group