Koh Myung Keun: Transparent Space, Walking in Between
My works, in which transparent images become a structure, are designed to make viewers feel the act of seeing itself. The fact that a sculpture packed with images is nothing more than an empty transparent receptacle is ultimately in line with the proposition that ‘there is nothing in the world that can remain substantial for good.’ I tried to show that every entity in the world we perceive is actually an empty object made up of constantly changing images.”
(An interview with Koh Myoung Keun)
Savina Museum presents Koh Myung Keun Solo Exhibition: Transparent Space, Walking in Between.
In 2020, Savina Museum of Contemporary Art decided to hold a solo exhibition by artist Koh Myoung Keun. Koh is known for developing a unique form of art that combines photographic, sculptural, and architectural elements, which he refers to as "photo sculpture." Afterward, for three years, the museum continued to discuss what the contents of the exhibition should be and how his works could be installed and displayed through several meetings with the artist. The conclusion the museum reached was that it would be a solo show in the form of a mid-term retrospective encompassing his works over 30 years from his early pieces to recent artworks, and it should also be an art exhibition in the form of his portfolio. New changes were tried in its content and structure in order to provide viewers with a more interesting experience. In terms of content, the exhibition organized Koh Myoung Keun's works into three thematic series: Building, Nature, and Body. These artworks are displayed on the second and third floors of the museum. And Trilogy, the most recent series, is on show on the fourth floor. The exhibition employed a lineup display approach, allowing visitors to make comparative analyses of the characteristics and changes in each period of Koh's work. Given the large number of works on display (202 pieces), this approach likely provided a way to explore overarching themes and influences across his artistic journey, rather than delving into the details of each individual piece. In turn, viewers are allowed to gain a new and extensive overlook of the artist’s thematic consciousness and worldview that penetrate his entire body of work.
