Junebum Park
dal 6/2/2008 al 21/3/2008
Segnalato da
6/2/2008
Junebum Park
Herrmann & Wagner, Berlin
Elastic System. The hands of the artist appear in many of the videos. They direct cars, diggers or pedestrians in their respective movements. These hands, which intervene in the videos in extra-large, appear like the representation of heavenly action on earth.
Junebum Park, born 1976 in Jeju, belongs to the young, innovative artist scene in South Korea making an appearance internationally at biennials and festivals. While his countryman Nam June Paik (*1932) was still battling to have "the cathode ray tube will replace the canvas", Junebum Park's generation is using modern media as a given to recount their stories. Universal media-critical reflections and local themes are held skilfully in balance here.
The hands of the artist appear in many of the videos. They direct cars, diggers or pedestrians in their respective movements. These hands, which intervene in the videos in extra-large, appear like the representation of heavenly action on earth. This may be read as a commentary with the background of the strong Christianisation of South Korea. The artist does not deny this in a general aspect. The new project Christian Church also reflects on this; it shows the conversion of an old warehouse into a large American style church.
However, formal questions of perception and reality levels are the ones that stand in the centre point of Junebum Park's interests. On the one hand, the artist creates completely new worlds at the narrative level: the digger which appears to be moved by hands seems like a toy digger that we all know from our childhood. On the other hand, the artist investigates our perception of reality: a typified "naked" house is alternately decorated with advertising panels and cars parking in front of it. First it is a bank, then a supermarket and then again a Puma sports shop. It is only the signets and logos that give the building its actual meaning and use. The use of time-lapses in the videos also creates a model-like and generally valid character of the portrayed images.
The exhibition is the second solo exhibition of this artist in Germany. Many will still be familiar with the artist through his presentation at the Galerie Koch und Kesslau, now closed down, in Berlin.
Reception with the artist: Thursday, 07.02., 19-22 h
Herrmann & Wagner
Koppenplatz 6 - Berlin
Free admission