[Gallery Walk] Casper Bosmans, Landscapes of Identity Unfolded Through Peas

Gladstone Seoul Through March 14
Pea Pod Series Expanded Through Painting, Sculpture, and Mural

Inside a pea pod, there are beans that are all different from one another. While they share the same shell, their shapes and colors are distinct. Belgian artist Casper Bosmans uses this simple structure to explore themes of identity and relationships. His first solo exhibition in Korea, titled 'Peas, Pod,' is currently being held at Gladstone Seoul in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul.

Belgian artist Casper Bosmans' solo exhibition 'Peas, Pod' exhibition view. Photo by Gladstone Seoul

This exhibition offers a multi-layered perspective on issues of identity and relationships through a diverse range of new and recent works, including paintings, sculptures, and murals. The exhibition title, 'Peas, Pod,' serves as a metaphorical device, referring to the coexistence of different entities within a single structure.

At the center of the gallery, a series inspired by the motif of the pea pod is displayed. The beans inside each pod are depicted with unique colors and patterns, and the motif extends beyond painting to sculpture and mural, installed both inside the gallery and on its exterior walls. The artist explains, "Just as there are various beans in one pod, I wanted to express the multiple identities within myself through different concepts."

The standout painting in the show is 'Two Kids in a Trenchcoat.' This work depicts two children inside a single coat, pretending to be an adult, serving as a metaphor for the act of concealing or adjusting one's identity to fit social norms.

The bean motifs in the artwork reference the works of American painter Forrest Bess and Brazilian artist José Leonilson. The artist stated, "I placed the works of two artists who influenced me within a single image."

Belgian artist Casper Bosmans' solo exhibition 'Peas, Pod' exhibition view. Photo by Gladstone Seoul

The exhibition also features the bronze sculpture 'Banded Bridge.' This gently curved, arch-shaped structure is installed to connect two separate pedestals. Bosmans describes the piece as "a bridge that acts as a mediating space, linking different realms."

In the 'Legend Painting' series, also on display, symbolic figures such as lions, roosters, horses, and ostriches are juxtaposed on a single canvas. Drawing inspiration from the Western tradition of heraldry, the artist visually interprets the way identities are fused and passed down through marriage and lineage. He notes, "A coat of arms not only symbolizes family identity but also demonstrates how different elements can be combined."

Bosmans has consistently used symbols drawn from mythology, folklore, and folk iconography, deliberately leaving their meanings open to the viewer's interpretation rather than fixing them to a specific narrative. He says, "Rather than explaining meanings, I'm interested in creating a structure where questions are activated. I hope viewers engage with the works both from a distance and up close, interpreting them in their own ways."

Belgian artist Casper Bosmans held his first solo exhibition in Korea. Photo by Gladstone Seoul

Born in Lommel, Belgium, Bosmans is currently based in Brussels and Amsterdam. He has held solo exhibitions at the Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro in Italy, De Hallen in the Netherlands, and the Centre for Contemporary Art in Brussels, Belgium, and has collaborated with the Belgian luxury brand Delvaux. The exhibition runs through March 14.

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