Art fair offers new angle on sculpture

Arts & Design

Published: 08 Apr. 2012, 21:48

Art fair offers new angle on sculpture

“Hippo” by Yang Tae-geun, is part of the Seoul International Sculpture Festa.Provided by the organizers

The second annual Seoul International Sculpture Festa kicked off on Saturday at the Hangaram Art Museum at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul.

“Shadow of Shadow” by Kim Young-won, is part of the Seoul International Sculpture Festa.Provided by the organizers

The exhibition and art fair, which continues until Friday, presents more than 700 sculptures by 120 artists from Korea, China, the United States, France and other countries. It is hosted by the Korean Sculptors’ Association and curated by Hzone, an art consulting firm.

The event is one of a “very few attempts” to focus on sculptures at a time when questions about sculptural approaches, quality and conditions have risen, a statement on the fair’s Web site says. By surveying contemporary art and engaging with social and cultural issues, the ISF is contributing to the development of discourse around these issues, the Web site says.

Unlike other art fairs, the sculptures presented here are not displayed in booths representing individual galleries but are organized into 12 sections with different themes.

“Shape” by An Chi-hong

Among them, “The Studio” section displays completed sculptures in replicas of the sculptors’ studios to help viewers understand the artists and their works.

The “2 and 1/2 Dimension” section features works on the borders of flat and three-dimensional structures.

Young viewers may be pleased with the “Sculptors in Wonderland” section, as they will see sculptures related to motifs from fairy tales and fantasy fiction in the section.

For those who are interested in sculptures made of experimental materials, the “Heavy Shadow” section is a must-see.

And the “Space Drawing” section examines the relationship between the sculpture and the space in which it is installed.

There are also sections dedicated to contemporary Chinese sculptors and modern masters including Armand Pierre Fernandez (1928-2005), a French-born American artist better known as Arman.

Meanwhile, the works of five foreign contemporary artists commissioned to create pieces for the show by event sponsor Crown Haitai Confectionery are displayed in an outdoor exhibition space. After the show closes, these works will be displayed in a permanent exhibition at the Haitai Art Valley International Sculpture Park in Jangheung, Gyeonggi.

By Moon So-young [symoon@joongang.co.kr]

* The exhibition runs through Friday. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is 10,000 won for adults. Go to Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5, and walk for five minutes. For details, visit www.sculpturefesta.com or call (02) 720-9101.