Sarah Dahnke

Although many exhibits are designed with the intention of making the viewer want to spend time viewing, discussing and absorbing the exhibition, the majority of the attendees at a typical art opening are in and out of the space as quickly as possible. I admit I'm guilty of the same behavior, especially on a night when multiple galleries are hosting openings on opposite sides of town. The appropriately titled "Service Station," currently showing at Walsh Gallery, is founded on the concept of resting and refueling, just as a weary traveler often needs to do. This multimedia extravaganza showcases the work of fifteen young Korean artists and, although it is divided into three sections in order to make the concept more cohesive, the pieces have little to nothing tying them together, aside from the fact they were all created by artists from the same country.

But it works; curators Sunhee Choi, Seewon Hyun and Jisun Song intended to represent a youthful perspective on Korean art that is often not present in American exhibits. The result is a collection of bright and colorful, sometimes tongue-in-cheek work from a collective of very eager Asian artists. Upon entering the gallery, it is difficult to ignore Kyung Hwon Kwon's "Shall We Dance?"--a massive installation that is composed of a maybe six-foot-tall red pedestal surrounded by black toy bears in suits arranged to look like they are simultaneously doing the robot. The simple yet striking color scheme seems to be a nod to the confines of Communism; however the prominent use of red is more likely a representation of death, with the toy bears going through the motions of a death procession.

The pencil drawings by Myungsun Goo, which involve a cartoonish girl with starry eyes, and a series of prints, also by Kwon, depict the often noted animation side of Korean art in a less-colorful, more organic manner. Kwon's series of three prints each show a single missile-like figure shooting out of the water. The tops of the missile have American cartoon characters, such as Pinocchio or a Power Puff girl, as a head. The fact that so many of the works paid mention to American culture in one way or another must either be deliberate or a sign that Hollywood is somehow ingrained into youth culture all over the world. From the Disney-headed missiles to Jeong-ho Oak's enormous, brilliantly sharp digital print from the Quentin Tarantino movie "Kill Bill," to Ho-in Lee's "Lover in the Forest," which depicts a white Barbie and Ken couple under a waterfall, it's hard to ignore the recurring American influence. Lee's painting is a direct contrast between classic Korean style, which is depicted in the intricate leaves on the trees in the forest, and American Hollywood stereotype. The woman in the painting has abnormally large breasts, bright eyes and a tiny waist. Her male counterpart has a chiseled face and chiseled body, and they are both artificial. Oak's other photo, "English Village," doesn't beat around the bush when making a Hollywood allusion. The giant color photo depicts a young Korean man wearing a cowboy hat and holding a gun, standing in front of a hill with a sign in white letters, which spell out the words "English Village."

Humor is not missing from the exhibit, be it deliberate or not. My favorite pair of photos are by Naum Kim, who gave his two full-color prints simplistic names that indicated what had been happening in a certain spot before he took the photo. "A Guy Touching a Black Vinyl Bag" and "A Guy Kicking the Front Wheel of the Car" are both accompanied by stories about one man "in his fifties" and another man "in his forties" who each made a bit of a scene in a public place, which was probably ignored by most of the general public. Instead of photographing the crazy men, Kim instead presents two deserted streetscapes, complete with pavement, street signs and random alley clutter.

"Service Station" is an ambitious feat, considering the number of artists involved and the extreme variations in style. And although gallery owner Julie Walsh had been organizing the show for quite some time, the process was not without its kinks. Bringing the artists and curators to the United States for the installation process and opening also meant two translators had to accompany them. And in true Chicago style, their international flight happened to be scheduled to land on the same day as a huge blizzard. But snow can be cleared, and broken English can be easily filtered through the multilingual. And a show curated on the other side of the world can travel to a foreign country yet remain completely relevant. This "Service Station" does it all.

"Service Station" shows at Walsh Gallery, 118 North Peoria, (773)829-3312, through March 9.

(2007-02-20)

Also by Sarah Dahnke

Eye Exam
Contemporary art collecting is typically reserved for the well-to-do, as prices are usually out of reach for us lower-class folks. Sure, it's feasible to get your hands on a reproduced and framed print, but purchasing a small sculpture may require taking out a small loan. However, three local art spaces that recently held openings have embraced the fact that unique and coveted art can also be affordable to the buyer who falls within an average price range
(2007-02-13)

Eye Exam
The Chicago Arts District is hosting its monthly 2nd Fridays event on February 9, and many of the galleries and studios in the 18th and Halsted area will be open to the public simultaneously. While there may be too many galleries to visit in just a couple of hours, there are some exhibits that are not to be missed
(2007-02-06)

Eye Exam
The topic of feminism in art is often approached in a very abrasive, in-your-face manner--understandably so, since the female gender spent a good majority of our years being seen and not heard. This is why it was surprising to find an exhibit showcasing only female artists that paid no specific mention of the fact that all of the artists are women
(2007-01-30)

Eye Exam
As a bratty child growing up in Oklahoma, I didn't realize I was in the minority because I had a Frank Lloyd Wright building gracing the skyline of my hometown
(2007-01-23)

Eye Exam
(2007-01-16)

Eye Exam
(2007-01-09)

Eye Exam
(2007-01-02)

Eye Exam
(2006-12-22)

Eye Exam
(2006-12-19)

Eye Exam
(2006-12-12)

Eye Exam
(2006-11-28)

Eye Exam
(2006-10-17)

about Newcitychicago | about Newcity magazine | advertising | privacy policy | FAQ | employment