Perrotin Seoul, Solo Exhibition by Kwangyoung Jeon 'Time Blossom'
Showcasing Eastern Dimensionality with Triangles Wrapped in Hanji
From Gray Tones to Pastels: Transformation Inspired by His Granddaughter
Debut of the 'Form' Series with Refined Dimensionality
Dozens or even hundreds of triangular pieces fill a massive square frame, creating a unique sense of dimensionality. The large square work, composed of assembled triangles, metaphorically expresses the relationships between the individual and the collective, tradition and modernity, and chaos and order.
Artist Kwangyoung Jeon has been presenting his 'Gathering' series for 30 years. The series is characterized by covering triangular pieces with old books made from Hanji, and then securing them with strings also crafted from Hanji. The inspiration for these works came in 1971, while Jeon was pursuing his master's degree at the Philadelphia College of Art in the United States, when he resolved to infuse his work with a distinctly Korean identity. The 'Gathering' series thus began in 1995 and continues to this day. However, this exhibition marks a significant change in his work. Whereas previous pieces were dominated by gray tones, this exhibition features, for the first time, a variety of pastel colors such as red, blue, and green.
The transformation in his artistic world stems from an internal shift. The once somber works are now filled with vibrant colors, a change inspired by his connection with his granddaughter. Now 81 years old, Jeon has recently begun incorporating a range of colors into his work after spending much time with his granddaughter. In this sense, the current 'Time Blossom' exhibition at Perrotin Seoul stands apart from his previous shows.
The works are dyed using natural materials. Jeon creates natural dyes by extracting ingredients such as persimmon, ink, ochre, mugwort, turmeric, pomegranate peel, and rouge from nature, and then combines these with the material properties of old books and Hanji. The pastel hues symbolize delicate emotions and the gentle flow of time. While Western packaging culture centers on boxes, the East is characterized by the culture of wrapping with bojagi. With this in mind, Jeon creates Hanji strings with the care of preparing medicinal herbs and the warmth of wrapping with bojagi, then uses them to wrap the triangular pieces. This process is akin to handling time itself?layering time by hand and tuning the emotional strata with color. This is why the series is titled 'Time Blossom.'
This exhibition also debuts the 'Form' works, which mean 'to embrace,' as a new extension of the 'Gathering' series. In the 'Form' pieces, Jeon sets aside the dense three-dimensionality and rhythmically overlaps triangles on a refined flat surface, evoking a sense of tranquility. The works convey the feeling of time quietly condensing, offering viewers a moment to pause and experience a sense of acceptance and emotional embrace. Jeon explained, "Rather than radiating energy, I wanted to communicate calmly," adding, "I hoped viewers would feel a sense of emotional healing, like the sea, by emphasizing natural imagery over sculptural materiality." The exhibition runs until July 5.
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