"Art That Becomes Frightening Up Close"... 'The Glorious World' Exhibition Addresses Global Crisis

Opening on Earth Day, April 22
At Chungmu Art Center Gallery Until August 24

"When you look at my work from a distance, there is nothing threatening about it at all, but when you come closer, you are confronted with a truly shocking reality. Sooner or later, viewers will realize that they are looking at hundreds of thousands of plastic bags."

Artist Chris Jordan's 'Venus 2011'. Chungmu Art Center

At a press conference for 'The Glorious World' held on April 21 at the Chungmu Art Center Gallery, operated by the Jung-gu Cultural Foundation, artist Chris Jordan spoke about his work 'Venus 2011' as quoted above, highlighting the fact that humanity uses hundreds of thousands of plastic bags every ten seconds. The piece is a kind of mosaic artwork made from 240,000 plastic bags. He explained, "From a distance, it looks like a very beautiful piece of art, but up close, it evokes emotions you may never have felt before," adding, "Rather than approaching it statistically, I wanted people to feel it through an emotional connection."

Currently residing in a small village in Patagonia, Chile, Chris Jordan has spent the past 20 years exploring the dark side of mass consumer culture through photography and conceptual art. Through his project 'Running the Numbers,' he presented the documentary 'Albatross' (2018), which deals with the situation of birds living on remote Pacific islands whose bodies are filled with plastic.

Nick Hannes, a Belgian artist who has explored contemporary political and social themes with visual metaphors and subtle humor, sheds light on Dubai, a city that has transformed into a cutting-edge metropolis in just a few decades due to oil development. He stated, "In Dubai, workers' rights are restricted, while the ecological footprint of the wealthy is the highest in the world," describing Dubai as "the ultimate playground of globalization and capitalism, where there are no ethics or limits."

Forty-six works by Ragnar Axelsson, who has been named 'Photographer of the Year' four times by the Icelandic Photojournalists Association, are also on display. His black-and-white photographs vividly capture the essential human experiences in the harsh environment of the Arctic. The exhibition introduces the lives of polar residents who experience the climate crisis most acutely. His work 'Arctic_The Edge of the World' captures the melting and disappearance of Iceland's glaciers and the vanishing Siberian tundra, highlighting the sense of crisis over the rapidly intensifying phenomenon of global warming.

Marco Gaioti vividly conveys the appearance and emotions of wildlife endangered by habitat destruction. Chungmu Art Center

Twenty-four works by Italian artist Marco Gaioti, who explores unspoiled natural habitats on Earth every year, are being unveiled for the first time. He vividly conveys the appearance and emotions of wildlife endangered by habitat destruction.

Cho Sehyun, president of the Jung-gu Cultural Foundation, stated, "This year marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Chungmu Art Center, making it particularly meaningful to present the first exhibition as a climate and environmental photography project," adding, "I hope this exhibition will help restore sensitivity to environmental issues through art and serve as a catalyst for actions toward a better future."

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