[Gallery Walk] Exhibition of Sibling Artists Collaborating for the First Time in 70 Years

Hakgojae Yoon Seok-gu & Yoon Seok-nam Two-Person Exhibition 'New Life'
Elder Sister Born in '39, Younger Brother Born in '47... Reunion After Half a Century
Yoon Seok-nam's Drawings and Yoon Seok-gu's Installation Works in One Place

A pair of siblings who have continued their artistic activities for over half a century are holding their first joint exhibition at Hakgojae Gallery in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Exhibition view of 'New Life'.
Photo by Hakgojae

Among seven siblings, artist Yoon Seok-nam, born in 1939 as the second child, and Yoon Seok-gu, born in 1947 as the sixth child, have conveyed messages about women and modern requiem through painting and installation works, respectively. In the Hakgojae curated exhibition "New Life," Yoon Seok-nam presented art expressing the meaning of living as a woman, having been born in Manchuria during the chaotic pre-liberation era, enduring and overcoming numerous hardships. Yoon Seok-gu has sought ways for humans and objects (the world) to reconcile. The relief of constrained everyday objects is the path Yoon Seok-gu follows.

A requiem flows deep within the hearts of both artists. Their works are not only about the meaning of requiem. In this exhibition, the true value of feminist art that Yoon Seok-nam has devoted herself to is amplified, and the significance of Yoon Seok-gu’s "readymade" or "found object" is intensified.

At the gallery entrance, a man standing with arms outstretched welcomes visitors. This work is modeled after Leonardo da Vinci’s human proportion drawings and is wrapped in colorful fabric. The artist covers the serious work of human proportions with vibrant cloth to offer a critical perspective on the scientism originating from da Vinci. Through this piece, he criticizes the contemporary belief that anything is possible through science.

In the middle of the exhibition space, the Venus of Willendorf sculpture also catches the eye. The statue, draped in brightly colored and patterned fabrics, fully embodies the pain of modern people who cannot even show signs of exhaustion or fatigue in daily life.

Exhibition view of 'New Life'. [Photo by Hakgojae]

Yoon Seok-gu, who has presented works by picking up discarded wood and wrapping it in fabric, says this process seemed to give new life to the wood. After wood, he began wrapping discarded items from apartments in fabric. One day it was a chair, another day a table. The theme of this exhibition, "New Life," may stem from his act of giving new life to objects that were on the verge of dying and disappearing.

Inside the gallery, there are many paintings by Yoon Seok-nam. She writes texts in her works that could be letters or poems. She is also well known for giving narrative through writing within her artworks. Their father was Yoon Baek-nam, the director of Korea’s first feature film "The Oath Under the Moonlight" and the author of Korea’s first popular novel "The Great Battle."

For Yoon Seok-nam, now in her mid-eighties, reading books remains a habitual part of her daily routine alongside painting. Compared to her three-dimensional works, which involve complex multi-stage production processes and condensed narratives, she completes a new form of work through drawings that spontaneously depict stories or images that come to mind in a short time, accompanied by written phrases.

YUN Suknam, Two Women, A Comforted One, 2001, Colored pencil on paper, 45x30cm
[Photo by Hakgojae]

This somewhat resembles a picture diary, but it is a poetic work that freely crosses time and space, spontaneously flowing from autobiographical experiences and thoughts as a woman, reflections on intimate human relationships, and inspirations from literature. The artist’s drawings, full of humor and wit, stimulate empathy and imagination while allowing intuitive interpretation, giving them the power to accept heavy social issues without resistance.

On the other hand, Yoon Seok-nam’s drawings are works that unravel inner knots. After facing a creative block, she naturally began drawing and devoted herself to it for two years. She confesses that she was healed by pouring herself entirely into drawing during this time. Among the works she created during this period, one depicting a figure hanging on a swing particularly draws attention.

YOON Seok-koo, A New Life (Julian), 2023, plaster, cloth, 55x25x30cm
Photo by Hakgojae

The artist said she was inspired by the thought, "It would be nice to float just 20 cm above the ground," during her drawing work. She explains that 20 cm is the most appropriate height to escape reality without ignoring the painful reality.

Although they walk different life paths and artistic directions, the two artists show similar attitudes and perspectives in reflecting on capitalism and simultaneously caring for and embracing humans and nature. Art historian Kim Hyun-joo described this as "art that 'saves' someone or something." The exhibition conveys the profound messages that the siblings have accumulated layer by layer through their accessible and friendly works. The exhibition runs until the 25th.

The two artists embedded profound messages in accessible works. The siblings’ exhibition continues until the 25th.