Artist of the week 131: Meekyoung Shin
Photograph: courtesy of Haunch of Venison
The Korean artist’s intricate carvings evoke the elision of meaning across cultures – and they smell as good as they look
Korean Eye - Saatchi Gallery
I recently visited the Saatchi Gallery for a private viewing of the Korean Eye collection of contemporary Korean Art, from 33 artists. The works range from oil paintings to sculptures to found objects to holograms to laser shows. Not only are the mediums extensive but the subjects addressed are poignant, every room I entered took me by surprise.
The rooms are filled with incredible soap vases by Meekyoung Shin, a breathtaking oil installation by Richard Wilson, inviting, textured pieces by Lee Jaehyo and many other captivating installations, that capture the profound cultural changes Korea has endured and overcome.
Meekyoung Shin - Translation. Her incredible vases take approximately six months each to create. The most surprising of all the installations; the vases are all carved out of soap!
Richard Wilson - 20:50. Wilson uses the oil to reflect and refract the light of the room and creates an expanse that seems never-ending. The walkway through the oil teases the viewers and allows them to be at eye-level with the oil.
Yeesookyung - Translated Vase. She uses broken, fragmented porcelain vases etc. and builds them into beautiful animal-like structures with gold.
