hong seon jang: labyrinth at david b. smith gallery

‘black forest’ by david b. smith, 2012 tape on chalkboard 24 x 36 in. (61 x 91.4 cm) all images courtesy the artist and david b. smith gallery

hong seon jang: labyrinth david b. smith gallery, denver, colorado, USA open may 4th, 2012 until june 16th, 2012

designboom has received an exclusive sneak peak of new york city-based artist hong seon jang’s upcoming solo show at david b. smith gallery in denver, colorado, USA. the exhibition is an assemblage of jang’s mixed-media sculptures and includes his tape drawings, decorated thread sculptures and a miniature cityscape formed from letterpress pieces. the artist’s elaborate installations transform every-day objects into actualizations that evoke both natural and man-made scenes.

in his tape drawing ‘black forest’, jang layers a typically transparent item until a ghostly wooded alcove is manifested upon a black chalkboard. with ‘black mirage’, the artist uses clear string, zig-zagging across the gallery space, to create the framework for darkened hot glue to adhere to. the effect is something like a man-made moss, growing upon the walls of the installation. again in ‘type city’, the artist re-imagines mass-produced materials, playing with the objects’ initial forms in order to create a whimsical, diminutive metropolis reminiscent of his new york city home.

‘black forest’, 2012 tape on chalkboard 18 x 24 in. (45.7 x 61 cm) courtesy hong seon jang and david b. smith gallery

‘black forest’, 2012 tape on chalkboard 18 x 24 in. (45.7 x 61 cm) courtesy hong seon jang and david b. smith gallery

‘black forest’, 2012 tape on chalkboard 19 x 25 in. (48.3 x 63.5 cm) courtesy hong seon jang and david b. smith gallery

‘black forest’, 2012 tape on chalkboard 24 x 36 in. (61 x 91.4 cm) courtesy hong seon jang and david b. smith gallery

‘black forest’, 2012 tape on chalkboard 16 x 20 in. (40.6 x 50.8 cm) courtesy hong seon jang and david b. smith gallery

‘black forest’, 2012 tape on chalkboard 16 x 20 in. (40.6 x 50.8 cm) courtesy hong seon jang and david b. smith gallery

‘black ruin’ (in progress), 2012 images by paul winner courtesy david b. smith gallery

hong seon jang has been in residence at david b. smith gallery for a week prior to the opening of the exhibition, installing the two site-specific works, ‘black forest’ and ‘black mirage’

‘black ruin’ (in progress), 2012 images by paul winner courtesy david b. smith gallery

‘black ruin’ (in progress), 2012 images by paul winner courtesy david b. smith gallery

‘black ruin’ (in progress), 2012 images by paul winner courtesy david b. smith gallery

‘black ruin’ (in progress), 2012 images by paul winner courtesy david b. smith gallery

‘black ruin’ (in progress), 2012 images by paul winner courtesy david b. smith gallery

‘black ruin’ (in progress), 2012 images by paul winner courtesy david b. smith gallery

‘I create works that evoke a fundamental recognition of our space and environment and imply physical vulnerability in our daily life. these ideas evolved from my interest in studying the similarities between human and non-human life forms pertaining to structures, symbols, and patterns. the main concept is a fascination with the comparison of human activity and natural phenomena as it corresponds to the circulation of destruction and creation. my work consists of installations often made out of found objects and common products. in giving these everyday materials new meanings and aesthetic possibilities, I strive to actively practice the concepts of the eastern philosophies of the circulatory life system and the continuous flow of connections. I re-create or manipulate the materials into a likeness of natural forms to embody new contexts of physical existence, in a sense, mimicking the fundamental force of survival and growth. by attempting to understand characteristics of different life systems and their associations with our own entity as my subject matter, I intend to introduce new visual dialogue and meanings for ephemera in life to define conflict associated with contradictions inherent in nature and society, such as physical fragility and danger, ephemeral and perpetual, creation and extinction.‘ -hong seon jang

‘type city’, 2012 letter press on wood panel 2 x 11 x 14 in. (5.1 x 27.9 x 35.6 cm) image courtesy of hong seon jang and david b. smith gallery

alternate view of ‘type city’ image courtesy of hong seon jang and david b. smith gallery

each of the skyscrapers are formed from metal letter pieces image courtesy of hong seon jang and david b. smith gallery

the letter pieces are grouped together on the wooden panel image courtesy of hong seon jang and david b. smith gallery

detailed perspective of the type-formed piece image courtesy of hong seon jang and david b. smith gallery