Galleria Patricia Armocida presented the first solo show in Italy by Korean artist Yu Jinyoung, I'm OK, curated by Tiziana Castelluzzo, that opeded on Wednesday September 18 2013.
The exhibition will present six sculptures from the series A family in disguise and seven works from the new series Wounded as well as photographs and drawings.
The work of Jinyoung invites the viewer to reflect on human identity and in particular on the loneliness and the difficulty that characterise relationships between individuals nowadays. Through the creation of human figures with enigmatic expressions and transparent bodies, the artist emphasises her concerns with feelings of isolation and lessened sense of self that pervades our society, as a result of an inability to communicate and express one's own individual feelings.
The gaudy decorations of the faces are insufficient to counteract the blank expression and the transparency of the bodies that express a feeling of anonymity and emptiness, as if these figures wanted to affirm their non-existence. The exaggerated knock-kneed stance of the two, denoting shyness and lack of assurance, is purposefully highlighted by the colourfully clad lower legs.
The title of the exhibition "I'm OK" comes from an ironic game inspired by the new series of sculptures "Wounded" which investigates in particular the psychological wounds of human existence. The figures have physical injuries and facial expressions that express a psychological suffering that they are trying very hard to hide, saying: "I am OK".
Yu Jinyoung was born in 1977 in Seoul, where she lives and works. She holds a Master's degree in sculpture at the Sungshin Women's University, Seoul. She has exhibited internationally in Korea, Europe and Japan.
In particular, among solo exhibitions: Myself / Them, Art Merge Lab, Los Angeles, California, 2015; I’M OK, Patricia Armocida Gallery, Milan, Italy, 2013; I'M OK, CHOI&LAGER Gallery, Cologne, Germany, 2013; A family in Disguise, Union Gallery, London, UK, 2008; Abundant Emptiness, Ami & Kanoko Gallery, Osaka, Japan 2007; Welcome, Kimi Art Gallery, Seoul, Korea, 2007; Abundant Emptiness, Chang Gallery, Seoul, Korea, 2006; Leaf, Life Noam Gallery, Seoul, Korea 2004.
Some of his more recent group exhibits: Hello, LeBASSE projects, U.S.A, 2011; An eye on korean contemporary, Paris, 2011; The Solo Project Art Fair, Basel, Switzerland ; Hey!, musée de la halle st pierre, Paris, 2011; Wow~! Funny Pop, Gyeongnam art museum, Gyeongnam, 2010; Lack of being, in ter alia art company, Seoul, 2011; Alice's Art Cube, Ansan arts center, Ansan, 2010; Star Wars-Episode Ⅲ, UNC Gallery, Seoul, 2010; Korean Art Show, New York, 2010; London Art Fair, London, 2010; The Cold Cell, do-it-yourself art centre, London, 2009; Transformation in art, Savina Museum,Seul, 2009; Hong Kong Art Fair, HKCEC, Hongkong, 2009; Museum in a Look, Woljeon museum, Icheon, 2009; PULSE MIAMI Art Fair, Miami, US; Merry Colorful Abstraction, Gallery Artside, Seoul, 2008; I Wanna Be a Contemporary Artist, The Arts House, Singapore, 2008; Hong Kong Art Fair, HKCEC, Hong Kong, 2008; The Battle of Taste, Sangsangmadang, Seoul, 2008; I Design, Kumho Museum, Seoul, 2007; Baton Touch, Art Space Hyun, Seoul, 2007; A Complex, Sungkok Museum, Seoul, 2007; Wall - A Story Behind That, Gallery Zandari, Seoul 2006; Museum Festival, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, 2006; Whey Protein, Kimi Art Gallery, Seoul, 2006; Seoul Art Fair, Seoul Arts Center, Seoul, 2006; Funny Funny 4, Gallery Sejul, Seoul, 2006; Objet Painting, Gallery Chosun, Seoul, 2006; 21C Shamanism, Gallery Choheung, Seoul, 2004; Rapture Party, The alternative space Hap, Club COD, Seoul.
ARTIST
