“Welcome to My World”

Lee Mikyung + Park Kiwon

4.15.2011 – 6.30.2011 (Opening: 4.15 6-8PM)

Art at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies

1-176 Shinmunro 2-Ga, Jongro-Gu, Seoul, Korea.

T: +82 (0)2.370.5850 / art@asaninst.org

10:30-18:30, open daily

Art at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies (AAIPS) is pleased to announce “Welcome to My World”, a collaboration between Park Kiwon and Lee Mikyung. The exhibition consists of two site-specific works: Fence, 2011 by Park Kiwon and Carpet, 2011 by Lee Mikyung.

Park Kiwon and Lee Mikyung have rigorously explored the concept of space for nearly two decades. For Park, each work begins with a total understanding of a space: its design, material, structure, function, history, and its visitors. “I want my work to exist within the space. I think both the space and my work should be neutral.” Similarly, Lee takes into consideration the space, purpose as well as other works in an exhibition to compose a specific ambience and user experience. Her works serve to further communicate the purpose of the exhibition.

Fence reexamines the unique structural design of the gallery space. The walls are both short and long, verging in different angles. A long window allows for natural light. The four pillars, ceiling, floor and walls are each constructed with different material. By constructing a wall with infinitely overlapping layers of ‘back-up’ strips, the work becomes an undulating fence embracing the gallery walls. The work softens the sharp angles of the walls, minimizes the contrasting structural materials, and filters the incoming sunlight to function as a medium between the space and its elements.

Carpet is a tableau of a social gathering. Carpets are laid out to mimic social space, and each carpet stands in for an individual—as if reserving a place for an expected guest. Lee seamlessly integrates her artwork into the exhibition environment. The artwork will be stepped upon, both knowingly and unknowingly. Each object is carefully placed to enhance the viewer’s experience of the space, thereby also amplifying the impact of Park’s work.

Park lives and works in Seoul, Korea. His work has been the subject of numerous exhibitions including those at the Museum Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (Madrid), National Museum of Contemporary Art (Seoul), The Korean Pavilion at the 51^st Venice Biennale, and Leeum Museum of Art (Seoul). Lee lives and works in Seoul, Korea. Her work has been presented in Ssamzie Studio (Seoul), East Modern Art Center (Shanghai), Art Sonje (Seoul), Pusan Biennale and Arko Art Center (Seoul).

Art at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies (AAIPS) is named after the late “Asan” Chung Ju-Yung, a global entrepreneur who dedicated his life to Korea’s prosperity and welfare. AAIPS aims to support the mission of the Asan Institute by promoting creative expression and enhancing the visual dialogue of Contemporary art through groundbreaking exhibitions of both Contemporary Korean and non-Korean artists.