Minimalism-Maximalism-Mechanissmmm Act 1–Act 2

Minimalism-Maximalism-Mechanissmmm Act 1–Act 2
January 20–March 6, 2022

Art Sonje Center, Seoul presents Minimalism-Maximalism-Mechanissmmm Act 1–Act 4 in collaboration with Kunsthal Aarhus, Denmark. The exhibition is conceptualized into four acts by Jacob Fabricius, and one of four acts, Act 4 is curated by Mikkel Elming. Act 1–Act 2 from January 20 to March 6 will be followed by Act 3–Act 4 from March 17 to April 24.

The exhibition Minimalism-Maximalism-Mechanissmmm Act 1–Act 4 will stage traditional expressions in a non-traditional and experimental setting. With clear curatorial intent, the exhibition examines how artists select, use and work with materials. Minimalism-Maximalism-Mechanissmmm’s four acts develop from a traditional setting and a physically, static display to a participatory, relational, and activating exhibition. Through the series of four acts the audience will encounter multiple ways of disseminating, experiencing, utilizing, viewing, and questioning curatorial methods and institutional approach to presenting works.

Act 1 will present minimalistic works. Embedded in the works are traces of making them, and the process is a fundamental element of the work. The works materiality is mainly influenced by the way they have been touched by nature and/or urban settings. Act 1 consists of tactile and sensual works on canvas, paper, and sculptures, while Act 2 presents paintings, where the artists are creating narrative stories from urban and rural areas. In Act 2 the storytelling is generated through the artist’s memory, and the works materiality can be experienced through the canvases, and their real and fictional characters. Act 1 and Act 2 generate a contemplative relationship between the artwork, their making, and the observer. The works are accompanied by extended wall labels written by the artists explaining a DIY method to make the work or tell the story.

Act 3 and Act 4, on the other hand, will invite the audience to interact with the works and actively participate with their hands, minds, and bodies. It will create connections between the artworks and the observer, and examine how the curator can affect the aforementioned relationship between works and audiences.

Artists
Act 1: Asger Dybvad Larsen, Fredrik Værslev, Kang DongJu, Monica Bonvicini, Oso Parado, Pernille Kapper Williams, Silas Inoue, and Tony Lewis. Act 2: Expansion Colony, Heo ChanMi, Kent Iwemyr, Li Ran, Nho Wonhee, Suh Yongsun, and Trevor Shimizu.

Curated by Jacob Fabricius (Director, Art Hub Copenhagen) Exhibition Management by Heehyun Cho (Curator, Art Sonje Center) Assisted by Eunchae Cho (Curatorial Assistance, Art Sonje Center)

Organized by Art Sonje Center and Kunsthal Aarhus. Supported by Art Hub Copenhagen, Augustinus Fonden, Danish Arts Foundation, Embassy of Italy in Seoul, Italian Cultural Institute in Seoul, Galleri Magnus Karlsson, Knud Højgaards Fond, and V1 Gallery.