Maria Lopez

Core Seminar 2

Johanna Herr

March 12th 2017

Exhibition Visit Assignment

TINA KIM GALLERY

Ability vs. Invisibility by Chung Seoyoung

 

The Tina Kim Gallery showcased a variety of Chung Seoyoung’s work from 2007 to present. The press release within the gallery states Seoyoung’s intention is to not indulge in “easily legible cultural symbols or narratives”1but to instead “focus on transposing her perception of industrialism and domestic, urban environments into the vernacular of her sculpture”1. Seoyoung accomplishes her intention through the “denial and reduction”1 within her pieces. The reduction within seoyoung’s work leaves the audience as the most dynamic element of her pieces. Therefore, instead of presenting a finished cultural narrative, Seoyoung leaves space for the interjection of any perspective to finish the piece. Beside’s the work itself, Seoyoung’s only intervention within the audience’s understanding of her work, are her titles. Titles such as: “The Adventure of Mr.Kim and Mr.Lee, Table, Nobody Notices It, A tiger only in half, a palm tree upside down, FAST!, and Curb, present the audience with a signifier of what has been modified within the piece or new way of looking at the work. The audience is left with the opportunity to bridge the title and piece together in order to reach a clearer understanding of the artist’s vision. The interactive process by which Seoyoung’s work operates within the gallery reinforces her decision to not be read exclusively as a Korean artist, without completely removing her identity from her work.The minimal reductive nature of seoyoung’s work does not allow western audiences the pleasure of placing her and her work within Asian categories.Therefore instead of giving the audience power to label and exclude, seoyoung initiates a collaboration. This collaboration between Seoyoung and her audience leaves the work open to multi-cultural interpretations and successful in her intentions.