[Exhibition of the Week] Simon Go 'Some Gorgeous Dream' · Lee Kyungmo Photo Exhibition and More

Simon Go, Fall In, Acrylic on canvas, 145.5 x 112.1 cm, 2022. Photo by Seo Jeong Art Busan

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] ▲Simon Go Solo Exhibition 'Some Gorgeous Dream' = A solo exhibition by artist Simon Go, who contemplates relationships and love, is being held at Seojeong Art Busan Gallery.

Under the theme of 'dreams,' the exhibition 'Some Gorgeous Dream' showcases Simon Go's work aiming to realize romantic and dreamy fantasies. Based on his personal experiences, the artist captures moments of emotional fulfillment that arise when forming relationships with others. This serves as the most important experience and realization of self in his artistic practice.

The exhibition focuses on the expression of 'dreams.' Representative works such as 'Even In Paradise' (2022), 'The Longshot' (2021), and 'Floaters' (2022) depict various emotions like trust, hope, and despair through diverse imagery. While fully understanding others in relationships is difficult, the artist says his works help shorten the process of understanding.

The theme of 'dreams,' central to Simon Go's work and this exhibition, is ambiguous and unreal, akin to a scene from a fantasy film. Each scene, with its own narrative, is both connected and separated, possessing a unique characteristic of being closely linked even within segmented time and space. The exhibition runs until October 28 at Seojeong Art Busan, Dalmaji-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan.

Assortiment n˚2, 109x58.5x3cm, wood, 2019. Photo by Gallery M9

▲Kim Giju Solo Exhibition 'Assortiment' = Gallery M9 is hosting the solo exhibition 'Assortiment' by French-Korean artist Kim Giju until October 30.

The artist colors black pine wood pieces obtained through burning, symbolizing human intervention in nature. Expressing his contemplation of the relationship between nature and humans on canvas, Kim asks the audience whether the encounter between nature and humans can always be harmonious, as suggested by the title 'Assortiment.' The human-intervened nature is depicted as artificially arranged in vertical and horizontal grids, representing the human desire to control natural elements and other unfamiliar external forces.

Through geometrically arranged wood pieces, the artist dreams of a blue paradise but ultimately explains the artificial reality transformed like burnt wood pieces through the 'Assortiment' series. Selected as an artist for the 11th 'Night of Creation' in Versailles, France, he will present a new exhibition locally starting October 1. The exhibition runs until October 30 at Gallery M9, Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Burning Yeosu City, 1948. Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Museum of Art

▲Lee Kyungmo Photography Exhibition 'A Moment That Became History' = The Jeonnam Provincial Museum of Art is hosting 'Lee Kyungmo Photography Exhibition: A Moment That Became History,' which explores the life and artistic world of Lee Kyungmo, a giant in Korean documentary photography.

The exhibition consists of over 140 photographs by Lee Kyungmo and personal materials related to his life. Born in Gwangyang, Jeonnam, Lee Kyungmo (1926?2001) served as head of the photography department at Honam Newspaper (predecessor of Gwangju Ilbo), capturing various historic events, scenes from Korea’s modern history, landscapes, cultural heritage sites, and the everyday lives of ordinary people across the country.

Notably, the exhibition features many photos of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident and images from before and after the war. Through these works, which highlight the significance of the events and the artist’s sincere documentary approach, visitors can recognize Lee Kyungmo not merely as a photographer who recorded events but as one who carefully observed the people within those events and aesthetically considered the landscapes where the events unfolded. The exhibition runs until December 18 at Jeonnam Provincial Museum of Art, Sungwang-ro, Gwangyang-si, Jeonnam.