Corporate-funded art centers resonate with the spirit of creativity

Corporate-affiliated nonprofit art organizations have taken active steps to promote arts and culture in Korea, providing diverse kinds of cultural enjoyment. Two corporate sponsored exhibitions currently being held in the Jongno in Seoul are worth exploring for those seeking the spirit of creativity.

Juergen Teller, “Touch me” at the Daelim Contemporary Art Museum (Address: 35-1 Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul)

Juergen Teller (b. 1964), a German-born photographer who gained fame through his fashion shoots for high-end brands like Marc Jacobs, Yves Saint Laurent, Helmut Lang and Vivienne Westwood is having his first ever solo show in Korea.

(From left) Girl in Park, London, 1999; Victoria Beckham, Marc Jacobs Campaign SS08; Kate Moss Gloucestershine, 2010 (Photos courtesy of Daelim Contemporary Art Museum)

The retrospective exhibition entitled “Touch Me” is currently taking place at the Daelim Contemporary Art Museum as a curatorial collaboration between Daelim Museum and Le Consortium, a contemporary art center in Dijon, France. Through July 31, the Korean showcase presents Teller’s celebrated fashion photography series, which brought a whimsical new perspective to both the fashion and art worlds. His photographic sensibility and refusal to segregate artistic and commercial photographs has led to a symbiotic originality within fashion photography.

In Teller’s photos, visitors discover of the crossover of fine arts and fashion, including famous models and celebrities like Kate Moss and Victoria Beckham shot with a twist on traditional notions of beauty. Also on display are his portrait photographs of artists like David Hockney, Roni Horn and Richard Hamilton and his documentary series, “Ten days in Havana.”

Daelim Contemporary Art Museum was designed by French architect, Vincent Cornu (photographed by Hwang Dana)

Daelim Contemporary Art Museum was founded in 1996 by the Daelim Group’s cultural foundation. The museum aims to enrich cultural heritage and knowledge among the public through organizing inspiring exhibitions and educational programs.

Since 2004, the museum has regularly offered jazz concert performances called “Museum with Music.” The tickets cost 2,000 won and are sold on a first-come first-served basis on the day of the event. Upcoming jazz concerts will be held on May 28, June 25, and July 23. The museum stays open late on Saturdays when concerts are held.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is 5,000 won for adults and 3,000 won for students. For more information, please visit the official website at: www.daelimmuseum.org (Korean and English).

Gwon Osang “Sculpture” at Doosan Gallery (Address: 1F Doosan Art Center, 270 Yeonji-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul)

Gwon Osang (b. 1974), best known his witty “Deodorant Type” –using photographs to create a 3-dimensional image, has established his own independent style and method of sculpture.

(From left) 2008 August, 186 X 232 cm, Lightjet print, wood frame, 2011; 2005 June, 186 X 232 cm, Lightjet print, wood frame, 2010; 2009 April,186 X 232 cm, Lightjet print, wood frame, 2011 (Photos courtesy of Doosan Gallery)

In his most series, “The Flat,”, running through June 2 at Doosan Gallery, Gwon diversifies his subject matter by using magazine images for his “collage sculptures.” He twists the notion of dimensional transformation by taking photographs of the sculptures he makes, converting the three-dimensional pieces back into flat, 2-dimensional pieces.

The artist, who has received attention in both domestic and international art scenes, participated in the Doosan Residency program in New York, where he held a solo exhibition last year in the corporate gallery’s U.S. branch. Gwon also took part of a number of important group exhibitions, including “Memories of the Future (2010)” at Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art and “Korean Eye: Fantastic Ordinary (2010)” at Saatchi Gallery in London.

Gwon Osang’s works at Doosan Gallery in New York (from left) Jangular, 2010, c-print, mixed media, 99×78.7×211 cm; Garden, 2007, C-print, mixed media, 175x119x66 cm (Photos courtesy of Doosan Gallery)

The Doosan Gallery is run as part of the Doosan Group Yonkang Foundation, which supports creativity in a multitude of different fields. The foundation also runs Yonkang Hall, a space dedicated to musical performances and a small theater, Space 111, in its Doosan Art Center complex in Yeonji-dong. In 2010, the organization launched the Doosan Artist Award to nurture young talents.

The Doosan Gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and until 6 p.m. on weekends and public holidays. It is closed on Mondays. Admission is free. For more information, please visit the official website at: www.doosangallery.com (Korean and English).

By Hwang Dana
Korea.net Staff Writer