"Pause and Sensing the Present Moment Through Art"...Antony Gormley "Inseparable Relations" Exhibition

Antony Gormley’s Exhibition Opens at Two Seoul Galleries
Exploring the Complex Relationship Between City and Humanity
“A Chance to Reflect on One’s Place in the World”

"I hope that art enables us to experience the present moment more vividly. The art I pursue is meant to awaken our sensitivity to changes occurring in our environment, our actions, our minds, and our souls." - Antony Gormley

British sculptor Antony Gormley, renowned for his works exploring the relationship between the body and space, will open his solo exhibition "Inseparable Relations" on September 2 at White Cube in Gangnam, Seoul, and Thaddaeus Ropac in Yongsan.

The exterior view of White Cube, where Antony Gormley's solo exhibition "Inseparable Relations" is held. The sculpture installed in India temporarily obstructs the pedestrian's path, awakening bodily sensations. White Cube

This exhibition delves into both public urban spaces and intimate sanctuaries, exploring the complex and intertwined relationship between humans and the city. Reflecting the artist's philosophy that "environment shapes humanity," the exhibition captures the tension between the body as a space and the surrounding environment through sculptural language.

White Cube Seoul will showcase six selected works from Gormley's sculpture series "Bunker," "Beamer," and "Blockwork." These works reconstruct the human body through the grammar of urban structures. Notably, two cast iron sculptures, each one and a half times the size of a real person, are displayed outside the gallery. "Body Twist IV" (2024) stands at the center of the sidewalk, temporarily blocking pedestrians' paths and awakening bodily sensations. Gormley explained, "My sculptures do not possess the imposing grandeur of heroic monuments. Rather, they prompt self-reflection by questioning our place in this world," adding, "I wanted to evoke the position of art at the heart of the environment occupied by humans as animals living in cities."

"Rest XIII" (2024) from the "Blockwork" series is positioned leaning against a low wall, as if lost in contemplation. The dense cast iron material anchors the figure both physically and conceptually, evoking the close interrelationship between humans and the Earth. Gormley stated, "Since childhood, I have perceived the body as a place. I continue to explore the body as a field of energy and as an object composed of interconnected cells."

The artwork "Here" (2024), which greets visitors at the entrance of the second-floor exhibition hall, gives the impression of shouting, "I am here, welcome." Thaddaeus Ropac

The Thaddaeus Ropac Seoul exhibition sharply investigates the body's internal state and how it is embedded within everyday spaces. The artwork "Here" (2024), which greets visitors at the entrance of the second-floor exhibition hall, gives the impression of shouting, "I am here, welcome." The exhibited works extend beyond the boundaries of sculpture, reaching to the edges of space, exploring how the rectilinear structure of space influences human senses and perception. The piece "Now" (2024) resembles a reclining figure, evoking concepts of vulnerability and rest.

The "Knotworks" series, installed on the first floor, visually maps the relationship between body and space, calling to mind the networks that compose modern society, such as water and sewage systems, electrical circuits, and transportation grids. These works symbolically reveal that the human body is part of a complex and extensive network.

The exhibition also features striking drawings. Reflecting on humans as animals living in cities, these drawings reveal the artist's perspective of bodily space and architectural domains as fields of shared perception for all humanity.

Interior view of the Thaddaeus Ropac exhibition. Thaddaeus Ropac

Gormley said, "Seoul was rebuilt from the ruins of the Korean War with new environments. Amid this uniqueness, I wanted to present an exhibition filled with messages and poetic expressions," adding, "Ultimately, my hope is that through this exhibition, art can once again restore its close connection to life. I hope it becomes an opportunity to restore the relationship between humans and all other living beings, and to reflect on one's place in the world." The exhibition will run at White Cube until October 18 and at Thaddaeus Ropac until November 8.

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