kwang mo: ball

one of the photographs in kwang mo’s series ‘ball’

the photographic series ‘ball’ by korean photographer kwang mo is visual art that effects a strong conceptual impression. by placing the same image of a red ball in a range of environments, kwang mo explores the significance of context on our understanding of what we see.

taken in series, the works follow a kind of metonymic logic: what is first a beach ball becomes now an abstract sun suspended in the sky, now a red balloon; now a bindi; now the entire composition loosely adopts the form of a flag. the soft, muted tones of the photographs only serve to reinforce this sensation of each image as a fleeting memory, capable of transmuting at any moment into something else. the visual repetition of the red circle amidst the backdrop of the sky also invites viewers to consider other associations the images bring to mind.

image ©  kwang mo, courtesy the artist

image ©  kwang mo, courtesy the artist

image ©  kwang mo, courtesy the artist

image ©  kwang mo, courtesy the artist

image ©  kwang mo, courtesy the artist