2011.10.27 MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

ANTHONY CARO

Kukje Gallery, Sogyeok-dong

To Sunday: In this solo show by the renowned British sculptor Anthony Caro, the juxtaposition of his signature weighty works with newer, smaller pieces, illustrates the tireless development of the 87-year-old artist’s oeuvre.

Caro is best known for pushing the limits of sculpture by unifying his installation with the surrounding space and architecture rather than focusing solely on the sculpture itself.

The exhibition highlights Caro’s ability to redefine his materials - industrial metal, wood and stone - and includes table pieces made just for the exhibition and six relief works from 2010.

Admission is free.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and until 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Go to Anguk Station, line No. 3, exit 1, and walk for about 10 minutes.
(02) 735-8449, www.kukje.org

IN THE HEART OF THE SUN

Gallery Hyundai, Sogyeok-dong

To Nov. 10: This exhibition aims to explore the concepts of “memory” and “trace” and features eight Chinese artists born after the mid-1960s.

The artists are special “because they experienced both the Cultural Revolution and capitalism when they were young,” the gallery said in a press release.

Chen Wei shows photos of surrealist images juxtaposed with everyday objects and Li Qing presents paintings based on newspaper photos. Wu Junyong shows paintings and animated films that satirize China and Zhu Yu looks through objects by painting them in a hyperrealistic manner. Also included is the group MadeIn, the duo Project without Space, painter Tu Hongtao and sculptor Yang Maoyuan.

“The memory of us remains as a ‘trace’ and a ‘symptom,’” the gallery said. “It strongly affects our present and makes our future indeterminate.”

Admission is free. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Sundays.
Go to Anguk Station, line No. 3, exit 1, and walk for about 10 minutes.
(02) 2287-3500, www.galleryhyundai.com

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. Mondays to Saturdays and is closed on Sundays.
Go to Cheongdam Station, line No. 7, exit 9, and walk for about 10 minutes.
(02) 3448-0100, 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 about 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 Nov. 3 and Dec. 1.

Admission is free. 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.