Hongsun Choi & Kyounghwa Kwak

The 2GIL29 GALLERY is hosting an exhibition titled “A House with Two Rooms,” featuring works by Hongsun Choi and Kyounghwa Kwak, from September 2 to October 14, 2023. Choi and Kwak share a common interest in exploring the intersections of the boundless world of contemporary art. Their ongoing work extends beyond mere artistic discourse, offering viewers a unique experiential space. The artists find direction in the harmony and contrast of sequential layers, combining the language of contemporary art with the power of tradition to clearly display the infinite possibilities of painting. At times, both blur the lines between two-dimensional and three-dimensional space, inviting the audience into an immersive world of art where they can directly engage in interactive experiences. Perhaps their work serves as a bridge between traditional artistic structures and modern interpretations, giving them a clear purpose in their artistic endeavors.

<두개의 방이 있는 집> 전시 전경

Hongsun Choi’s artistic endeavors represent a profound internal meditation that re-sensitizes the viewer to sculptural realities through a contemporary lens of visual and emotional expression. His artistic practice reveals traces of at least three decades of experience. His works emanate from a space dense with a carefully constructed life experience and worldview, carrying the imprint of tranquil meditation and silence. His large-scale sculptures serve as conduits that display organic textures and the vitality of nature. They act metaphorically as aimless journeys or walks, essentially an extension of such spiritual activities. Beyond the boundaries of physical form, these works deliver undistorted echoes of nature’s essence and vitality. The complex layering and diverse color schemes in his work go beyond mere visual elements to encompass multi-layered and fluid meanings. A deep philosophical understanding of the spatiality of margins, poetic implications, and the symbolism of objects sensitively reflects the mutable human conditions and social landscapes of today. His “White Paintings,” first unveiled at the 2GIL29 GALLERY, faithfully manifest another world of Hongsun Choi. The depicted whiteness on the canvas hides a multi-layered color structure beneath, possessing its own poetic dimensions. These works cannot be reduced or defined merely by function or appearance; they are complex, multi-dimensional entities. Comprised of unostentatious colors and forms, they provide deep insights into the transformative origin of life and the fountainhead of beauty, essentially pointing to the concept of “nothingness.” His work may feel like a ‘non-material’ space within the whiteness of the canvas, both flat and spatial. In conclusion, Choi’s art continuously reminds us of the need for balance, peace, and quiet meditation in the complex context of our era. Through his work, he serves as an important guide for us navigating these complex times, ultimately allowing the viewer to experience a time of deep insight and contemplation.

최홍선 Hongsun Choi, 무제 Untitled 161.5×121.5cm Acrylic on birch panel, 2023

The fields of engineering and art are often considered diametrically opposed, yet artist Kyunghwa Kwak defies this notion. Despite a background in computer engineering, her works offer a complex interplay of everyday emotions and poetic reasoning through paintings and objects. The pieces showcased at the 2GIL29 GALLERY serve as a platform to explore the boundaries and possibilities of media, as well as the dynamic interplay among various sensory experiences. Her unconventional two-dimensional works focus on “synesthetic transference”—the process of converting one sense into another. This goes beyond mere “observation” to encourage “participation,” allowing for an ideal engagement with the artwork through touch. What stands out in this exhibition is the artist’s nuanced color palette. Her works feature lines and forms that never repeat identically, offering a glimpse into how Kyunghwa Kwak reinterprets her innate talent and feminine sensitivity in a contemporary language. In summary, her art provides an intensely intimate look at how emotion and intellect, body and space interact in a modern context. Her work transcends mere aesthetic enjoyment, maximizing the flexibility and openness of art to engage with the diverse elements in our lived world.

곽경화 Kyounghwa Kwak, 어떤돌 스스로 구르는 Some Pebbles,  Rolling by Themselves, 7x5x3cm(each)_Glazed, ceramic, 2020-2023, 1,000개

Hongsun Choi and Kyounghwa Kwak are artists who don’t merely ride the wave of contemporary trends; they’ve been constructing their unique artistic worlds through consistent experimentation and technical research. Their current exhibition at the 2GIL29 GALLERY serves as a crystallization of these endeavors, filled with works that offer deep reflections on the essential nature and meaning of art. The variety of mediums and formats they employ manifests their individual artistic languages. Their multi-faceted efforts, which include objects, installations, and paintings, clearly reveal their intentions and their commitment to probing the depth and essence of art. The integrative and correlational approach to their chosen mediums of experimentation opens various dialogues between space and time, and even between sensation and reason. This demands not only deep insight and understanding from the artists but also from the viewers. Such a multi-dimensional approach transcends mere ‘art appreciation,’ offering new perspectives on art, life, and the complex intertwinings of contemporary society. This reminds us of Walter Benjamin’s discussion of the ‘aura’ in “Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” or even echoes concepts put forth by Jacques Lacan, continually posing fundamental questions about art’s original purpose and its role in contemporary society. Rather than answering these profound questions, what strikes me is the dedication of these two artists who walk a similar path. They immerse themselves in the work they love without grand ambitions.

2GIL29 GALLERY

2GIL29 Bldg. 35, Gangnam-daero 158-gil, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul 06034 Korea

+82 2 6203 2015

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