2011.9.29 MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

interSPACE

Ilwoo Space, Seosomun-dong

To Oct. 12: This exhibition features eight media art pieces by Park June-bum, Han Keryoon, Hong Seung-hye and the artist duo Mioon.

Projected onto a large screen, Hong’s “Organic Geometry” shows computer graphics developing from a single pixel just like an organism sprouting from a seed. Meanwhile, Han’s media work on two flat-screen display panels shows the movement of the moon reflected in a pool of water in a white porcelain bowl, representing the flow of time.

Admission is free. The galley opens at 10 a.m. on weekdays, at 1 p.m. on Saturdays, at 1:30 p.m. on Sundays and closes at 6:30 p.m. daily.
City Hall Station, line No. 1 or 2, exit 10
(02) 753-6502, www.ilwoo.org

FRENCH ART TODAY: MARCEL DUCHAMP PRIZE

National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, Gyeonggi

To Oct. 16: Most of the 100 works by 16 French artists in this show are related to everyday objects, as the participating artists are winners of, or candidates for, the Marcel Duchamp Prize. Duchamp (1887-1968) made a name for himself in France’s avant-garde movement by introducing ready-made products to his works. The prize is sponsored by a group of French collectors called AIDAF.

Of particular interest is Mathieu Mercier’s “Drum and Bass.” It looks like a 3-D version of Dutch abstract painter Piet Mondrian’s famous “Composition” series but is actually made of objects the artist collected from supermarkets.

Another contributor to the show, Celeste Boursier-Mougenot, shows porcelain bowls floating in a pool that produce a mellifluous soundtrack by continually nudging each other.

Laurent Grasso’s video “Projection,” depicts a cloud that appears and charges toward the viewer along a narrow road before filling the whole screen.

Admission is 5,000 won ($4.60). The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays and until 9 p.m. on weekends. It is closed Mondays.
Go to Seoul Grand Park Station, line No. 4, exit 4, and take the shuttle bus, which runs every 20 minutes, or walk 15 to 20 minutes to the museum.
(02) 2188-6114, www.moca.go.kr

FRANCOIS PINAULT COLLECTION: AGONY AND ECSTASY

SongEun ArtSpace, Cheongdam-dong

To Nov. 19: Works by four of the world’s most provocative contemporary artists are shown in this exhibition. They include the creepy installations featuring real animal parts in formaldehyde by British artist Damien Hirst; the thought-provoking “Balenciaga” photo series by American artist Cindy Sherman; the “Bourgeois Bust - Jeff and Ilona” by American artist Jeff Koons, which depicts a moment of passion between the artist and his wife at the time, Hungarian-born Italian porn star Ilona Staller; and sculptures of manga characters with exaggerated sexuality in “Hiropon” and “My Lonesome Cowboy” by Japanese artist Takashi Murakami.

At 22, the number of works on display is not large. But they provide a glimpse of the signature styles of the world’s hottest contemporary artists.

The works are from the collection of Francois Pinault, a major shareholder in Christie’s auction house and founder of business group PPR, which has as subsidiaries luxury fashion brands such as Gucci.

Admission is free. The galley is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Go to Cheongdam Station, line No. 7, exit 9, and walk for 10 minutes.
Call (02) 3448-0100, or visit www.songeunartspace.org.

MY WAY: JEAN-MICHEL OTHONIEL SOLO SHOW

Plateau, Jung District

To Nov. 27: This retrospective of French contemporary artist Jean-Michel Othoniel shows 60 of the artist’s works.

Othoniel is known for his glass works, including a permanent installation at the Palais-Royal Musee du Louvre metro station in the French capital that he designed in 2000 to commemorate the metro’s centenary.

This exhibition includes two glass sculptures that look like giant beaded necklaces, or strands of DNA, with deeply symbolic names: “Lacan’s Knot” and “The Great Double Lacan’s Knot.” The names echo French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan’s reference to the Borromean ring, “three connecting rings that completely dismantle if any one of them is severed” and explain “the interrelationship of the real, symbolic and imaginary orders steeped within human desire,” according to Plateau.

Admission is 5,000 won. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m and is closed on Mondays.
Go to City Hall Station, lines No. 1 or 2, exit 8, and walk for 5 minutes.
1577-7595, www.plateau.or.kr

COUNTDOWN

Cultural Station Seoul 284, Dongja-dong

To Feb. 11, 2012: This exhibition celebrates the rebirth of a landmark train station in downtown Seoul as an integrated art and cultural space after an extensive two-year restoration process.

About 20 artists ranging from world-famous installation artist Lee Bul to the emerging sculptor Ham Jin are exhibiting their work at the new space, called Cultural Station Seoul 284.

Works by new artists will be added every month until Feb. 11, the day of the official opening of the center, which is expected to accommodate a variety of cultural and art events.

Old Seoul Station has been closed since 2004, when a new high-speed railway station was built, but it has since been renovated as a multipurpose space.

A performance created by artist Yeesockyung, traditional dancer Lee Jeong-hwa and others will be held at 6 p.m. on Oct. 7, Nov. 3 and Dec. 1.

Admission is free until Sept. 30, and 2,000 won for adults beginning Oct. 1.

Hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays to Fridays and to 9 p.m. on weekends. It is closed on Mondays.
Seoul Station, line No. 1 or 4, exit 2
www.seoulstation.org

*Information is culled from the galleries and other online sources.