[Exhibition of the Week] Eom Jeong-sun 'Shaking Elephant' · Lee Seong-ja Solo Exhibition and More

Editor's NoteThis week's exhibitions introduce a variety of attractive shows from across the country that can be experienced over the course of one week.

▲Jeongsoon Eom Solo Exhibition 'Shaking Elephant' = Duson Gallery presents the solo exhibition 'Shaking Elephant' by artist Jeongsoon Eom, who has explored social inclusivity. The exhibition features over 60 works including drawings, paintings, photographs, and sculptures, through which the artist addresses the question, "What is seeing?" using the metaphor of an elephant. While the artist's signature elephant sculptures capture attention, this exhibition notably showcases many drawings created since the early stages of his career.

Elephant without a Trunk.
[Photo by Duson Gallery]

The artist finds answers to the fundamental question of "seeing" through the metaphor of the elephant. The exhibition's main narratives are based on the fable of the "Blind Men and the Elephant" and the historical event of the first elephant arriving on the Korean Peninsula. Additionally, the elephant, as the largest terrestrial animal and a foreign creature, embodies reflections on our prejudices within the works.

'Elephant Without a Trunk' (2022) is a work embracing the concept of 'difference' and gained significant attention by winning the 'Park Seo-bo Art Award' at the 2023 Gwangju Biennale. It was praised for sharing social meanings of deficiency and offering new insights.

'Shaking Elephant' visualizes the concept of time by connecting two narratives about elephants, where different spatiotemporal moments coexist and influence each other. The motif of 'shaking' runs through the time images, depicting elephants, birds, and landscapes in photographs as blurred or omitted to present them in a new way.

Hidden whisper to the deer - Dear dear.
[Photo by Duson Gallery]

The symbol of shaking represents the changing nature of existence, as "movement is life," and signifies attempts to find new meanings or identities of the subjects.

This exhibition, which highlights the artist's overall work, offers a chance to explore his artistic world that has sought the essence of seeing and the meaning of existence through elephants. The exhibition runs until March 16 at Duson Gallery, Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul.

Installation view of the solo exhibition 'A Collection of Woodcut Prints' by Lee Sung-ja at Artworks Paris Seoul Gallery. [Photo by Artworks Paris Seoul Gallery]

▲Sungja Lee Solo Exhibition 'A Collection of Woodcut Prints' = Artworks Paris Seoul Gallery hosts the solo exhibition 'A Collection of Woodcut Prints' by artist Sungja Lee.

The artist left Korea in 1951 and moved to Paris to study plastic arts, dedicating herself to Western painting and woodcut prints into her 90s. She attracted attention in the Paris art scene by incorporating Korean elements into her works. Subsequently, through extensive exhibitions, she entered the global art stage and established her position as a leading Korean modern artist.

Installation view of Seongja Lee's solo exhibition 'A Collection of Woodcut Prints' at Artworks Paris Seoul Gallery. [Photo by Artworks Paris Seoul Gallery]

Over more than half a century, the artist created approximately 4,000 works, held 85 solo exhibitions, and participated in over 300 group exhibitions. Notably, she collaborated with Michel Butor, a master of the Nouveau Roman genre, attempting to combine plastic arts and literature. Her creativity transcended painting, as demonstrated through ceramics, tapestries, mosaics, and poetry collections, showing her timeless artistic vision.

This solo exhibition focuses on her woodcut prints. Visitors can fully experience the artist's works that embody a harmonious world where her life and art coincide, all gathered in one place. The exhibition runs until March 30 at Artworks Paris Seoul Gallery, Bukchon-ro 4-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

SHB #0000. 2021. [Photo by Helen & Jay Gallery]

▲Seungho Jeong Solo Exhibition 'IN THE BOX' = Helen & Jay Gallery presents the first solo exhibition 'IN THE BOX' by stage designer Seungho Jeong.

With 30 years of experience as a stage designer for musicals such as 'Rebecca,' 'Excalibur,' and 'Werther,' the artist presents human figures inside 'boxes' and various backgrounds in oil paintings, differing from traditional painting styles.

The human figures inside the boxes symbolize human existence itself and also serve as a medium for viewers to reflect on themselves. Behind the human figures, the backgrounds contain various moments and meanings of life, arousing the curiosity of the audience. Through this, the artist intends for viewers who see the 'human' and diverse moments contained in the boxes to have moments where they can project their own emotions, memories, and experiences onto the works.

SHB #0017, 2023. [Photo by Helen & Jay Gallery]

As this is the artist's first solo exhibition, a wider range of themes and numerous works are presented to the audience. The first floor of the exhibition space introduces works focusing on the artist's artistic world. The second floor exhibits works themed around 'owls,' and the final third floor is composed of works with a black and white concept.

Just as the human figures inside the boxes contain various moments of life, the artist offers an experience where visitors can incorporate their personal emotions, memories, and experiences. The exhibition runs until March 10 at Helen & Jay Gallery, Palpan-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul.