[Exhibition of the Week] Manwook Solo Exhibition 'Deep, Flat Tree' · Jamel Tata 'Silent Space' etc.

Nathan Coley's 'WE MUST CULTIVATE OUR GARDEN' installed in the Tate Modern Garden in London, England.
Photo by The Page Gallery

▲Naydan Collie Solo Exhibition 'No Golden Rules' = Naydan Collie's first solo exhibition in Korea, which has once again become a hot topic with the installation of the large-scale work 'We Must Cultivate Our Garden' (2006) in the Tate Modern garden, has been extended until the 15th at The Page Gallery in Seoul Forest.

Collie has explored how architecture and place are imbued with meaning centered on the concept of 'public.' In particular, he reveals through various media how constructed public environments disclose certain aspects about the surrounding people and how social and personal responses to these are culturally conditioned.

The artist creates large-scale text light installations using phrases borrowed from around the world. The phrases, divided so they can be read in any order outside their original context, present new meanings to viewers. The first work visitors encounter upon entering the exhibition is 'Parade Sculptures' (2015), scattered as if discarded by protesters after marching on the road. This piece evokes the feeling of an event having just occurred, arousing curiosity while expanding the exhibition space into a field of meaning and revealing the ambiguity that is central to all of the artist's work.

Nathan Collier, Text Lighting 'PALACE' Exhibition View [Photo by The Page Gallery]

The work 'Palace' (2015), composed of the words Life, Mind, Belief, Land, Wealth, appears to praise the values and goals sustaining Western capitalist society. However, these five words actually represent the five core 'human rights' according to Islamic interpretation. By summarizing these core beliefs into five words, the artist encourages the audience to question their meanings and how the words relate to each other. He states, “My work is political and also contains a sensory perception of the world in various ways, along with a sense of humor.” The exhibition runs until the 15th at The Page Gallery, 2-gil, Seoul Forest, Seongdong-gu, Seoul.

Untitled 2020, Oil and wax on canvas
[Photo by Gallery508]

▲Jamel Tata Solo Exhibition 'Silent Space' = Gallery 508 is hosting the first solo exhibition in Korea of French painter Jamel Tata, a leading figure in neo-representational painting who has been actively producing works.

Born in France in 1957, Tata graduated from ?cole des Beaux-Arts de Saint-?tienne and currently serves as a professor at the National School of Fine Arts in Paris. Rooted in the Western art tradition from Rembrandt, Poussin, to Matisse, he has established his position on the international stage by employing an original technique of color portraiture through modern reinterpretation and composition.

Using the method of placing life-sized figures on monochrome planes as his working motto, the artist ignores spatial perspective and excludes expressionistic elements in the background, allowing the viewer's gaze to focus not on one spot but across the entire canvas. The free arrangement of figures, the motif of his work, emphasizes the expression of inner emotions through gestures and facial expressions. The space painted in simple and restrained monochrome or dual tones creates a neutral feeling that transcends time and space, becoming a silent space sometimes warm, sometimes cold, dominated by tranquility.

Untitled 2016 Oil and wax on canvas
[Photo by Gallery508]

The artist expresses a facet of modern society as a solitary self-portrait in a silent space. The consistency in his use of monochrome or two-tone backgrounds conveys a philosophical message that the essence of the world does not change, and the gestures and expressions of the contemplative figure suggest that the truth of life must be found within oneself.

Nevertheless, the artist delivers a message of positivity about life to the audience. He paradoxically emphasizes the importance of communication over isolation and separation through the themes of solitude and silence. The artist explains, “My paintings are quiet. Imposing silence on a noisy world carries a message encouraging us to step back and carefully observe our relationships with others and society.” The exhibition runs until September 16th at Gallery 508, Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Engraved warm hearts __ 18 x 18.2 x 1.8 cm _ wood cut, acrylic on wood _2023. [Photo by TYA]

▲Manwook Solo Exhibition 'Deep, Flat Tree' = Seochon TYA presents Manwook's 'Deep, Flat Tree.' Manwook is a young artist active since 2010 who has attracted the attention of many collectors by participating in various art fairs.

The artist addresses the theme of coexistence between humans and non-human species. He deconstructs the strictly anthropocentric structures to create spaces on flat paintings where non-human species are equally represented. This exhibition features a total of 36 works, including four sculptures and 32 panel works. Notably, all previous works were created on wood, and the exhibition includes both his early works and pieces made this year using carving knives.

By engraving works on wooden panels, the artist experiences the tactile sensation of the wood surface. This evokes a sense of coexistence with non-human species at a closer distance. In the exhibition, the artist attempts to expand his artistic world by introducing the medium of panels as well as canvases.

The artist states, “This is my first exhibition composed of works created on the medium of wood, and it is very meaningful to me personally.” The exhibition runs until the 20th at Seochon TYA, Jahamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul.