2009. 10. 2 MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

KUKJE GALLERY, Jongno District

To Oct. 9: “Lee Ufan Sculpture.”

Kukje Gallery is hosting a special exhibition of sculptures by renowned Korean artist, Lee Ufan. Lee’s works emphasize the interrelationship between two unique elements: natural stones and iron plates.

Lee, who is an artist, writer and philosopher, observes the relationship between objects that encounter the external world and the space embracing them. The rocks and iron plates may both come from nature, but they symbolize nature and man-made structures, respectively.

Lee is considered one of the most influential and widely recognized Korean artists abroad. He has been generally identified with the Japanese art scene for many years, thus influenced by its culture, but he remains deeply connected to Korea. This is Lee’s first solo show in Seoul in six years. It features 10 installation pieces with rocks, iron plates and poles laid out on the gallery’s floors.

The gallery is open from Monday to Saturday at 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays

Anguk Station, line No. 3, exit 1

(02) 735-8449, www.kukjegallery.com

DIE GALERIE, Apgujeong

To Oct 10: “Feng Zhengjie - Floral Life.”

“Floral Life” is a new series from renowned Chinese artist Feng Zhengjie, and is being held at Die Galerie through Oct. 10. Feng, who specializes in portrait paintings, is best known for his “Portrait of China” series which is largely inspired by vintage Chinese posters from the 1930s, but also incorporates elements of both modern and traditional Chinese art.

Feng reinterpreted the Western pop art that represents commercialism and capitalism to portray the radical changes in China through exaggerated facial expressions in his portraits. His paintings consists mostly of women, and plays with their hairstyles and makeup to heighten his artistic statements.

Although Feng’s works have drawn considerable attention from Korean artists, this is his first solo exhibition in Seoul.

In this new series, Feng depicts life and death using flowers and skulls for subject matter. Flowers indicate the peak of our lives, and the skulls represent death. His works were influenced by the death of his mother, making his works displayed in this exhibition some of Feng’s most personal pieces to date.

The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Apgujeong Station, line No. 3, exit 4

(02) 3447-0048, www.die-galerie.co.kr

HANGARAM ART MUSEUM, Seoul Arts Center

Oct. 6 to 11: “Modern Acculturation Exhibition of Korean Painting.”

The Hangaram Art Museum at the Seoul Arts Center is hosting an exhibition entitled “Modern Acculturation Exhibition of Korean Painting,” which will display Oriental paintings from over 200 Korean artists.

Over the past 10 years, Oriental paintings have experienced a miniature renaissance, with many different forms of paintings in Korea, not only from local artists but also many from abroad, being exhibited.

However, Oriental paintings have struggled to appeal to mainstream tastes, which are still more focused and accustomed to Western-style paintings. Therefore, the main aim of this exhibition is to introduce the public to Oriental paintings from a new generation of artists, who combine age-old themes and techniques with a touch of modernity.

The exhibition is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and admission is free.

Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5

(02) 580-1300, www.sac.or.kr

OPERA GALLERY SEOUL, Cheongdam-dong

Oct. 12 to 31: “Bright Society - Works presented by Young-gyun Park and Ron English.”

Opera Gallery Seoul is holding a special exhibition entitled “Bright Society” with the work of two artists, Young-gyun Park and Ron English. Park, a graduate from Kyung-Hee University in Seoul, will display his latest works of Barbie dolls, stuffed animals and Lego toys, perfectly coordinated as one community.

In order to reflect the elements of social community and environment, each toy depicts the allegorical persona of individuals within the Korean community.

Use of bright colors such as red, yellow and green maximize the uniqueness of each element in the painting, while offering a rare harmony in his work as these colors are distributed evenly throughout the canvas.

Ron English graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in contemporary art and his works are very much influenced by America’s pop culture. English depicts mass cultural icons such as McDonald’s, “The Simpsons” and Marilyn Monroe as so many sabotaged versions of the protagonists, simultaneously combining familiarity and absurdity. In his work, the meaning behind these friendly figures is in total contrast to their iconic reputations, giving his art a surrealistic touch.

The exhibition is open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Cheongdam Station, line No. 7, exit 9

(02) 3446-0070, www.operagallery.com