Singapore—Pearl Lam Galleries is delighted to present Aggregation, a solo exhibition by Korean artist Chun Kwang Young (b. 1944) that surveys works from his acclaimed long running series of the same name. The series explores underlying concerns with the whole versus the individual amidst the artist’s negotiations between the East and West. In his search for a culturally authentic mode of expression, Chun combines his early experimentations with Abstract Expressionism with his mastery of a uniquely Korean material, mulberry paper.
Korean mulberry paper is at the centre of Chun’s artistic practice, deeply imbuing his works with a Korean sensibility by lending its potency for metaphorical associations. Although long prized as a medium for writing and drawing, it was once a central feature of Korean daily life. Delicately translucent, yet strong and durable, mulberry paper was used for a variety of purposes in Korean households. From covering doors, windows, and walls, to carpeting floors and packing dried goods, mulberry paper proved to be a versatile material—a worthy symbol of Korean national pride. The paper is also evocative of herbal medicine bundles that were prominent in Korean traditional medicine prior to the advent of modern medicine in the years following the Korean War. Medicinal herbs were hung from the ceiling in clusters, wrapped in mulberry paper inscribed with invocations for good health. It is no coincidence that the wrapped triangles of Chun’s Aggregation works are v isually similar to their spiritual ancestors, as the artist draws from connotations of healing in his address of the socio-cultural issues particular to his country and universal conditions of human trauma and suffering.
“Chun Kwang Young’s Aggregation works showcase his unique ability to use traditional Korean materials in a contemporary context, and we are delighted to welcome him back to Singapore . This exhibition celebrates Pearl Lam Galleries’ commitment to presenting artists who re-evaluate and challenge perceptions of cultural practice in the region.”
—Pearl Lam, Founder of Pearl Lam Galleries.
About Chun Kwang YoungSeoul-based artist Kwang Young Chun (b. 1944, Hongcheon County, Korea) received his BFAfrom Hong-Ik University in Korea, and MFA from the Philadelphia College of Art, USA. Knownfor his sculptural assemblages—both freestanding pieces and wall-hung low reliefs—Chuncomposes his forms from a myriad of small shapes wrapped in Korean mulberry paper. With atrompe l’oeil quality, Chun’s sculptures create the illusion of depth and coalescence and,ultimately, represent the harmony and conflict in the unity of many.Chun Kwang Young’s works have been acquired by, and are included in esteemed publiccollections, such as the Rockefeller Foundation in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum inLondon, the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington D.C., the United Nationsheadquarters in New York, the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul, thePhiladelphia Society Building, Seoul Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Australia atCanberra, Fidelity Investments Boston, Museum Kunstwerk in Germany, and the Busan ArtMuseum, among others. Named the Artist of the Year by the National Museum ofContemporary Art, Seoul, in 2001, Chun has also received many other accolades recognisingthe unique beauty of his works. Most recently, he was awarded the Presidential Prize in the41st Korean Culture and Art Prize by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Korea in2009.About Pearl Lam GalleriesFounded by Pearl Lam, Pearl Lam Galleries is a driving force within Asia’s contemporary artscene. With over 20 years of experience exhibiting Asian and Western art and design, it is oneof the leading and most established contemporary art galleries to be launched out of China.Playing a vital role in stimulating international dialogue on Chinese and Asian contemporaryart, the Galleries is dedicated to championing artists who re-evaluate and challengeperceptions of cultural practice from the region.The Galleries in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore collaborate with renowned curators, eachpresenting distinct programming from major solo exhibitions, special projects andinstallations to conceptually rigorous group shows. Based on the philosophy of ChineseLiterati where art forms have no hierarchy, Pearl Lam Galleries is dedicated to breaking downboundaries between different disciplines, with a unique gallery model committed toencouraging cross-cultural exchange.Influential Chinese artists Zhu Jinshi and Su Xiaobai, who synthesise Chinese sensibilities withan international visual language, are presented internationally with works now included inmajor private and public collections worldwide. The Galleries has also introduced leadinginternational artists such as Jenny Holzer and Yinka Shonibare MBE (RA) to markets in theregion, providing opportunities for new audiences in Asia to encounter their work. Pearl LamGalleries encourages international artists to create new work, which engages specifically withthe region—collaborating to produce thought-provoking, culturally relevant work.
