Venue: SongEun Art Space

This Fall, SongEun ArtSpace presents a solo exhibition of Korean artist Ligyung who has been exploring an immaterial material, “Light”, which has also become the medium and context for her installations. The title of this exhibition, “more Light: Diagram of the sperm whale”, refers to Ligyung’s continuous interests in physical properties of light according to space. The subtitle ‘Diagram of the sperm whale’ was conceived from the cross section space layout of SongEun ArtSpace which to the artist is similar to the head shape of sperm whales. Also, taking inspiration from Herman Melville’s novel 「Moby-Dick」 Ligyung creates a dark and meditative atmosphere to reflect the struggle of the human and the sperm whale and reveals her view of the world metaphorically throughout her installations.

Li’s works stem from her interest in such things that are not visible to the naked eye but have a definitive fluid nature like light and the sources of light. Honing in on the unique characteristics and expandability of non-materialistic subjects, she has continually challenged herself through various changing of forms. If the role of the audience in her previous works was that of a “principle agent” that completes a work by viewers witnessing and taking in the light, her new works is that of an “object”, meant for visitors to gaze at the light as part of a perfectly calculated spatial setup.

Li who has always been about doing space specific installations, introduces three new works spanning throughout SongEun ArtSpace. Two pillars of light that seem to descend from the heavens greet viewers when entering into the dark gallery. The two cylindrical light columns continuously and slowly blink on and off, crossing each other at times, as Li’s way of signifying the endless loop of “creation and destruction” and revealing to us the her contemplations over the death-bound journey humans start from the moment they are born.

It is Ligyung’s intention for us to have a meditative experience when coming into her installations. It is also her aim for all sounds emanating from each respective floors to bleed out and come together as one orchestral piece within the given space, creating an environment that aids viewers to concentrate only on the works themselves and thereby asking us to ponder about “creation and destruction“ as we are immersed in the colorful and diverse festivities of lights.

Image: Ligyung, I can see your halo #scene 03, 2017, 3D video, psyche light, multi-channel sound

 

+http://songeunartspace.org/programs/user/space/space_en_start.asp