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JANG SOON:
a one-night only video presentation
this friday, jan 7 from 6-9p at the arts incubator's cocoon gallery
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cocoon gallery
115 w 18th
kcmo 64108
816.421.2292
Cocoon Gallery welcomes you to join us this January's First Friday for an evening presentation of Chicago-based artist Jang Soon Im's newest work. This will be the premier showing of Soon's highly imaginative films in Kansas City. The event is free and open to the public.
In these short-length animated films, war takes 'center stage'- pitting brightly colored soldiers against one another within an arena hand-drawn by the artist. Performance is cleverly intertwined with war, and tradition becomes wedded to pop culture. As the artist sees it, "A world always at war. This war is not to be won, but is war for its own sake. No start, no end. It is like a performance."
Jang Soon Im constructs his characters from photographs taken of himself wearing self-crafted soldier's uniforms in various poses. Once inserted into the digital realm, these characters are divided into two opposing "troops" and easily manipulated to march, attack, and ultimately kill. Adding to the complexity of these works, each scene forms a reenactment of a historical battle in Korea, or between Korea and China or Japan. Unlike actual war, however, these do not end tragically. The fallen spring back to life, the severed head returns to its body and the victor receives the gift of "Wonder Girls" (a South Korean girl group).
ARTIST BIO
Jang Soon Im holds an M.F.A. fin Drawing and Painting from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a B.F.A. in Oriental Painting from Seoul National University. His work has shown nationally and internationally, including exhibitions in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Seoul. This past year, Soon completed the Vermont Studio Center Residency program and was awarded a James Nelson Raymond Fellowship from the Art Institute of Chicago.
For more information or additional images, please contact:
Kristin Grossman, Gallery Director
kgrossman@artsincubatorkc.org
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About Arts Incubator
The
Arts Incubator, located in the heart of Kansas City's Crossroads Arts
District, is a non-profit organization whose mission is to foster new
talent by providing access to costly equipment and facilities, low-cost
studio space and a forum to teach the "business of art" to member
artists.
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