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Magical realism infuses exhibition

Polish artist Wilhelm Sasnal’s oil painting “Untitled (Kacper and Anka)” is part of the group exhibition “Tracing Shadows” at the Plateau, Samsung Museum of Art, in central Seoul. Provided by the museum

With installations and new media works dominating contemporary art shows nowadays, “Tracing Shadows,” an exhibition that starts on Thursday at the Plateau, Samsung Museum of Art, in central Seoul, seems unusual.

All 35 paintings on display by 12 international contemporary artists are created with relatively classic techniques.

“?‘Pliny the Elder’s Natural History’ recounts the origin of painting in a story of an ancient Greek woman tracing the shadow of her lover on the wall before his imminent departure,” said Cho Na-young, the curator of the show. “It has inspired generations of artists to redefine painting beyond simple imitation, as an act of negotiating a stance between desire and reality.”

In accordance with the explanation, many paintings on display have magical realist tones, including those by Polish artist Wilhelm Sasnal, British artist Lynette Yiadom-Boakye and U.S. artist Hernan Bas.

They are landscapes and portraits of images that can be seen in reality but are improbable at the same time, or have mysterious details.

Tickets cost 3,000 won ($2.66) for adults. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. Go to City Hall Station, line No. 2, exit 8. For more details, visit www.plateau.or.kr or call (02) 1577-7595.

BY MOON SO-YOUNG [moon.soyoung@joongang.co.kr]