Overcoming Contemporary Crises Through Maternal Love... 'Ottogi' Artist Yang Sun-yeol Solo Exhibition

Dreaming of Symbiosis Between All Life and Objects
Over 220 New Paintings and Sculptures Unveiled, at Hakgojae Gallery Until the 25th

Yang Sun-yeol, Artist. Photo by Hakgojae Gallery

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] "The works presented this time are the result of a process of finding balance between myself as the artist and myself as a mother."

Yang Sunyeol, well known for 'Ottogi (Motherly Ottogi),' emphasized motherhood in this exhibition. At her solo exhibition "Mother, Establishing Ottogi (Motherly Ottogi)" held at Hakgojae Gallery in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, the artist presents over 220 new works, including 23 paintings and 197 sculptures expressing dreams, love, and motherhood.

The artist, who dreams of dissolving the fundamental separation between humans and non-humans and the coexistence of all life and objects, realized the expansion of motherhood, overcoming contemporary crises, and the possibility of spiritual communication between humans, objects, and nature through Ottogi.

Upon entering the basement level 1 of the exhibition hall, visitors encounter the large-scale work "Hyeonhyeon (玄玄)" that captures the eye. In this piece, which personifies the Ottogi Mother, the artist expresses the dynamic expansion of the universe in subtle colors, creating a natural energy.

Hyeonhyeon (玄玄) 66 Epiphany 66, 2021, Gouache acrylic on canvas, 60x60cm. Photo by Hakgojae Gallery

The large Ottogi-shaped work "Ottogi" consists of three circular curves layered stepwise to form a triangular shape, expressing a mother's love that embraces her children and the world with maternal affection and stands up by herself no matter what hardships come.

As a solution to the expanding issues of the current era, the artist proposes "motherhood (母性)." Focusing on the mother as a vessel that accepts everything, the artist explains, "The birth of existence all comes from the mother, and everything received from the mother is within me."

Exploring the fundamental essence of life through motherhood, the artist emphasizes that the separation between humans and non-humans in new materialist thinking, which shifts from anthropocentrism to object-centrism, can coexist through motherhood.

The exhibition runs until the 25th at Hakgojae Gallery in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.