[Exhibitions of the Week] Yugeuntaek Solo Exhibition 'Reflection' · Joyoungbae Solo Exhibition 'Observation, Record, Life' and More

Editor's NoteThis week's exhibitions introduce a variety of diverse and attractive shows that can be seen nationwide over the course of one week.

▲ Yugeuntaek Solo Exhibition 'Reflection' = Gallery Hyundai is hosting a solo exhibition titled 'Reflection' by artist Yugeuntaek, who expresses the vitality of the earth and the cyclical philosophy of fountains through painting.

Spring - Beginning of the World, 2023.
Photo by Gallery Hyundai

The artist, who majored in Oriental painting at university, early on focused on the 'everydayness' that contrasts with the conceptual time and space emphasized in Eastern aesthetics, leading a fresh movement in the Korean art scene. He has presented various works that signify the everyday as another world that re-imprints the 'self' facing this world anew and opens forgotten senses.

The artist's approach and attitude toward 'everydayness' extend into his methodology for creating works. Since the mid-2010s, he has continuously experimented to overcome the physical limitations of hanji, a traditional Korean paper and an essential material in Oriental painting. For the artist, hanji is not merely a medium to contain the subject but a stage where his body meets the painting and an entity capable of generating its own pictorial language.

Fountain, 2023, Ink and color on Hanji paper. [Photo courtesy of Gallery Hyundai]

By layering thick hanji sheets, drawing and coloring on them, then soaking the entire surface with water and roughly raising the hanji surface with a metal brush before recoloring, the artist applies physical traces, breath, and physical force. Through this labor-intensive process of rubbing hundreds to thousands of times with the metal brush, he directly and actively intervenes in the surface and materiality of the work, deconstructing the surface and bringing forth the hidden space beneath to create a new space, conveying a paradoxical message. The exhibition runs until December 3, at Gallery Hyundai, Sagan-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Giant of Midnight (2023).
[Photo by Seochon TYA]

▲ Gaebakha Solo Exhibition 'The Giant and the Croissant' = Seochon TYA presents 'The Giant and the Croissant,' a solo exhibition by artist Gaebakha (Shin Heeyong). This exhibition is the first solo show in a collaboration between two illustrator artists (Gaebakha, Bae Seonggyu) and TYA Gallery.

The artist has gained public attention by expressing moments between reality and unreality through digital illustration, working across various genres including publishing with works such as 'The Fish Died That Day' and 'Ten Thousand Dives.' The exhibition features 13 digital prints, some of which originated from a fairy tale the artist was creating. Having worked as a game illustrator, the artist aimed to bring that sensibility into this first solo exhibition, highlighting especially 'Midnight Giant' (2023) as a work that well encapsulates the elements he wanted to express.

Sigh Becomes the Wind (2023) [Photo by Seochon TYA]

The artist explains the message in the work: "I tried to convey a message encouraging people to keep moving without stopping. I thought many people hesitate and carry a sense of frustration, so rather than encouragement, I wanted to offer comfort through empathy. After receiving comfort, I believe everyone can get up on their own." The exhibition runs until November 9, at Seochon TYA, Jahamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Zebra Austin. 2023. [Photo by Gallery Ruben]

▲ Jo Youngbae Solo Exhibition 'Observation·Record·Life' = Gallery Ruben is hosting a solo exhibition titled 'Observation·Record·Life' by artist Jo Youngbae. The artist gained public recognition after winning the grand prize at the 2018 JW Art Awards hosted by the Jungoe Academic Welfare Foundation. Having difficulty with free communication, the artist builds his own imagery through the canvas from the perspective of an observer.

In this exhibition, the artist conveys his desire to communicate with the world through his works. He confesses, "Though many things are lacking, I have a special talent. Communication with people is not free, but happy work gives courage and inspires dreams." Through works featuring bright colors and various flora and fauna, he delivers messages of healing, recovery, happiness, and hope to the audience.

I am a flowerpot and a shadow. 2021. [Photo by Gallery Ruben]

Observing flowers blooming and growing in the same space as himself and plants undergoing continuous change, the artist captures the movement of the subjects with a delicate gaze, neither hurried nor lazy, and reflects this on canvas. Having observed and recorded the shadows of plants that change gradually over time, the artist explains that shadows convey their own image?sometimes as silent forms, sometimes lively, or heavy and faintly disappearing?depending on the characteristics of the plants. The exhibition runs until November 7, at Gallery Ruben, Insadong 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.