Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art celebrates its 10th anniversary with "Beyond and Between,” a special exhibition embracing all three buildings of the private art museum in Itaewon. P K M's representing artist Lee Bul and Choi Jeong-hwa participate in this exhibition!
Bells from the Deep by Lee bul is an installation that utilizes two-way mirrors and LED lighting to create the illusion of an infinite number of forms. Two opposing mirror panels reflecting light from a myriad of light bulbs generate the illusion of a three-dimensional labyrinth of corridors that pull visitors into the installation. With both organic and mechanical characteristics in terms of its form, a central polyurethane structure connotes the overlapping of the past and present. In this work, Lee continues to tackle the perpetual question of time and space. Here, the mirror serves as an effective tool that allows for visitors to embark on self-reflection. Bells from the Deep fosters the exploration of existence and substance and illustrates how our understanding and perception of the world are relative and ever-changing.
Alchemy by Choi Jeong-hwa is an artwork that is monumental in scope, reflecting Choi Jeong-hwa’s expanded artistic philosophy. It hangs in a long passage filled with light from the rotunda roof of the museum. Just as alchemy refers to magical chemistry that is able to change ordinary materials into gold or an elixir, the artist shows us an “everyday alchemy” by transforming multicolored plastic containers commonly found in our everyday lives into something mysterious, like a jeweled rope coming down from the sky. Believing that “everything is art and everyone is an artist,” Choi is trying to discover the value of art in what is not important and seems non-artistic instead of what is huge and complete.
The exhibit runs through Dec. 21. Admission is 10,000 won for adults. For more information, visit www.leeum.org or call (02) 2014-6901.