HORI ARTSPACE-ENG

알림

September is undoubtedly the peak season for the art market, especially in Korea. During this time, Korea's biggest art fair, KIAF (Korea International Art Fair), coincides with the internationally acclaimed Frieze Seoul, creating an exciting event for art lovers. This period is particularly important as it draws international art collectors and art-related professionals to Korea, garnering significant global attention. As a result, it is an excellent opportunity to showcase the vision of contemporary art, infused with Korea's distinctive sensibility and explored from various perspectives. The essence of contemporary Korean art is deeply rooted in its traditional aesthetics. Many artists have long grappled with the challenge of reimagining and consistently integrating this traditional beauty into the modern context. The September exhibition at Hori Art Space, titled “Duo Exhibition, Two Different Discernments: Kang Min Soo & Park Sung Min on Ceramic,” is a continuation of this effort to explore and address this question. While there are many ways for tradition to intersect with modernity, these two artists present examples of interpreting “ceramics” through distinct approaches to the esthetic theory. Kang Min Soo (born in 1972) has gained considerable recognition both in Korea and abroad for his characteristic contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional beauty of the moon jars. His pieces, which vary in size from 40-50 cm to over 60 cm, gently penetrates our emotions with their pronounced depth of pure white. For more than two decades, he has been steadfast in using traditional wood-fired kilns to capture the understated simplicity of moon jars. His moon jars are highly valued and are part of collections in various places, including those of international celebrities, the Blue House (Cheongwadae), Korean Air, and Daiso's headquarters. As the visionary artist Nam June Paik once remarked, “The moon is the television of ancient times.” In much the same way, moon jars of Kang Min Soo offer a sense of familiarity through their enigmatic charm and imaginative qualities. Although moon jars might appear similar at first, those known as “moon jars of Kang Min Soo” are notable for their outstanding aesthetics. While staying true to traditional Joseon Dynasty techniques, Kang Min Soo makes an extraordinary effort to capture the sensibilities of the modern era. For instance, he frequently travels throughout the country in search of the finest clay, refining his ceramics through extensive experimentation. The ceramics he creates are often described as having a “deep resonance, as if exploring a small universe within the abyss.” His moon jars embody the fundamental elements of form and space, the ideas of emptiness and fullness, and the concept that “form is emptiness," all within a single piece. On the other hand, Park Sung Min (born in 1968) is renowned for his "Ice Capsule Paintings." Throughout his career, he has steadily featured three key elements in his work: ice, plants, and ceramics. In the early 2000s, he gained considerable recognition in the art ream by winning several prestigious awards, such as the Grand Prize in the Abstract category at Korea Grand Art Exhibition, the Dong-A Art Prize at the Dong-A Art Festival, and the Grand Prize at SaImDang Grand Art Exhibition. The contrast between the ice and the green plants embedded in the pristine Cheonghwa Baekja porcelain immediately draws the viewer's eye. While the depiction of plants appearing to grow within transparent ice might be reminiscent of one of hyper-realistic painting, it is, in fact, an abstract, imaginative scene that does not exist in reality. The intense vitality of the plants breaking through the ice and encapsulated in ceramics seems to suggest that “Life mirrors this in its essence.” In this series, the artist focuses on the characteristics of ceramics, presenting numerous new works that transform the texture of ceramics into abstract images, ranging from large to small pieces. His works evoke a sense of mystery, as if one has stumbled upon the surface of a vast, unknown planet or a newly formed primordial land. This feeling arises from the captivating blend of hyper-realism and abstraction. Since the start of his career, Park Sung Min has been dedicated to capturing the three states of matter — solid, liquid, and gas — on a single canvas. This is one reason why he has selected ice as the primary medium for his work. Interestingly, ceramics share similar characteristics in terms of their properties. Solid clay becomes liquid when mixed with water, and during the firing process, gases are released, leaving behind the ceramic form. His latest works zoom in on the surface of ceramics, transforming it into abstract imagery. In the exhibition titled "Duo Exhibition, Two Different Discernments: Kang Min Soo & Park Sung Min on Ceramic," the artworks are presented with a division between wall-mounted pieces and spatial installations. flat-surfaced works of Park Sung Min are displayed on the walls. The exhibition features over 20 pieces, ranging from small works measuring 53.0 x 45.5 cm to larger pieces exceeding 162.2 x 130.3 cm. His works, which use hyper-realistic techniques to portray the surfaces of ceramics, appear to capture and preserve fleeting moments from different time periods on the walls. The scenes describe moments when snow, rain, and mist fill the canvas, capturing the atmosphere of late night, dawn, or early morning. In front of this backdrop, moon jars of Kang Min Soo are nonchalantly positioned. It appears as if a full moon has momentarily descended from the sky, sparking a sense of poetic imagination. The artist’s jars are arranged throughout the exhibition space, creating an elegant pathway for visitors. As viewers move through the exhibition, using the large and small moon jars as reference points, like stepping stones, they may find themselves unexpectedly filled with a sense of positive energy. A unique piece has been included in the exhibition: This is an art collaboration piece where the works of Kang Min Soo and Park Sung Min have been transformed once again by UNAS, a renowned brand for the "artistic feel in desserts." This moon jar cake, created by Lee Euna, the head chef of UNAS, is inspired by the works of the two artists, each of whom reinterprets ceramics from their own perspective. To add a finishing touch, Park Sung Min personally painted the surface of the cake, enhancing its overall completion. Curiously, the exhibition “Two Different Discernments: Kang Min Soo & Park Sung Min on Ceramic” takes place during the Chuseok holiday. The simple imagery of the full moon brings a sense of joy and contentment. We truly hope that the works of Kang Min Soo and Park Sung Min, which offer unique reinterpretations of moon jar ceramics from two different perspectives, will serve as yet another gift from this autumn season full of abundance.

September is undoubtedly the peak season for the art market, especially in Korea. During this time, Korea's biggest art fair, KIAF (Korea International Art Fair), coincides with the internationally acclaimed Frieze Seoul, creating an exciting event for art lovers. This period is particularly important as it draws international art collectors and art-related professionals to Korea, garnering significant global attention. As a result, it is an excellent opportunity to showcase the vision of contemporary art, infused with Korea's distinctive sensibility and explored from various perspectives.
The essence of contemporary Korean art is deeply rooted in its traditional aesthetics. Many artists have long grappled with the challenge of reimagining and consistently integrating this traditional beauty into the modern context. The September exhibition at Hori Art Space, titled “Duo Exhibition, Two Different Discernments: Kang Min Soo & Park Sung Min on Ceramic,” is a continuation of this effort to explore and address this question. While there are many ways for tradition to intersect with modernity, these two artists present examples of interpreting “ceramics” through distinct approaches to the esthetic theory.
Kang Min Soo (born in 1972) has gained considerable recognition both in Korea and abroad for his characteristic contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional beauty of the moon jars. His pieces, which vary in size from 40-50 cm to over 60 cm, gently penetrates our emotions with their pronounced depth of pure white. For more than two decades, he has been steadfast in using traditional wood-fired kilns to capture the understated simplicity of moon jars. His moon jars are highly valued and are part of collections in various places, including those of international celebrities, the Blue House (Cheongwadae), Korean Air, and Daiso's headquarters.
As the visionary artist Nam June Paik once remarked, “The moon is the television of ancient times.” In much the same way, moon jars of Kang Min Soo offer a sense of familiarity through their enigmatic charm and imaginative qualities. Although moon jars might appear similar at first, those known as “moon jars of Kang Min Soo” are notable for their outstanding aesthetics. While staying true to traditional Joseon Dynasty techniques, Kang Min Soo makes an extraordinary effort to capture the sensibilities of the modern era. For instance, he frequently travels throughout the country in search of the finest clay, refining his ceramics through extensive experimentation. The ceramics he creates are often described as having a “deep resonance, as if exploring a small universe within the abyss.” His moon jars embody the fundamental elements of form and space, the ideas of emptiness and fullness, and the concept that “form is emptiness," all within a single piece.
On the other hand, Park Sung Min (born in 1968) is renowned for his "Ice Capsule Paintings." Throughout his career, he has steadily featured three key elements in his work: ice, plants, and ceramics. In the early 2000s, he gained considerable recognition in the art ream by winning several prestigious awards, such as the Grand Prize in the Abstract category at Korea Grand Art Exhibition, the Dong-A Art Prize at the Dong-A Art Festival, and the Grand Prize at SaImDang Grand Art Exhibition. The contrast between the ice and the green plants embedded in the pristine Cheonghwa Baekja porcelain immediately draws the viewer's eye. While the depiction of plants appearing to grow within transparent ice might be reminiscent of one of hyper-realistic painting, it is, in fact, an abstract, imaginative scene that does not exist in reality.
The intense vitality of the plants breaking through the ice and encapsulated in ceramics seems to suggest that “Life mirrors this in its essence.” In this series, the artist focuses on the characteristics of ceramics, presenting numerous new works that transform the texture of ceramics into abstract images, ranging from large to small pieces. His works evoke a sense of mystery, as if one has stumbled upon the surface of a vast, unknown planet or a newly formed primordial land. This feeling arises from the captivating blend of hyper-realism and abstraction. Since the start of his career, Park Sung Min has been dedicated to capturing the three states of matter — solid, liquid, and gas — on a single canvas. This is one reason why he has selected ice as the primary medium for his work. Interestingly, ceramics share similar characteristics in terms of their properties. Solid clay becomes liquid when mixed with water, and during the firing process, gases are released, leaving behind the ceramic form. His latest works zoom in on the surface of ceramics, transforming it into abstract imagery.
In the exhibition titled "Duo Exhibition, Two Different Discernments: Kang Min Soo & Park Sung Min on Ceramic," the artworks are presented with a division between wall-mounted pieces and spatial installations. flat-surfaced works of Park Sung Min are displayed on the walls. The exhibition features over 20 pieces, ranging from small works measuring 53.0 x 45.5 cm to larger pieces exceeding 162.2 x 130.3 cm. His works, which use hyper-realistic techniques to portray the surfaces of ceramics, appear to capture and preserve fleeting moments from different time periods on the walls. The scenes describe moments when snow, rain, and mist fill the canvas, capturing the atmosphere of late night, dawn, or early morning. In front of this backdrop, moon jars of Kang Min Soo are nonchalantly positioned. It appears as if a full moon has momentarily descended from the sky, sparking a sense of poetic imagination.
The artist’s jars are arranged throughout the exhibition space, creating an elegant pathway for visitors. As viewers move through the exhibition, using the large and small moon jars as reference points, like stepping stones, they may find themselves unexpectedly filled with a sense of positive energy. A unique piece has been included in the exhibition: This is an art collaboration piece where the works of Kang Min Soo and Park Sung Min have been transformed once again by UNAS, a renowned brand for the "artistic feel in desserts." This moon jar cake, created by Lee Euna, the head chef of UNAS, is inspired by the works of the two artists, each of whom reinterprets ceramics from their own perspective. To add a finishing touch, Park Sung Min personally painted the surface of the cake, enhancing its overall completion. Curiously, the exhibition “Two Different Discernments: Kang Min Soo & Park Sung Min on Ceramic” takes place during the Chuseok holiday. The simple imagery of the full moon brings a sense of joy and contentment. We truly hope that the works of Kang Min Soo and Park Sung Min, which offer unique reinterpretations of moon jar ceramics from two different perspectives, will serve as yet another gift from this autumn season full of abundance.