(UN) NECESSARIES SANG TAEK OH
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(UN) NECESSARIES SANG TAEK OH
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photographic colour print on canvas 150 x 95cm each / 2013
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#73 *150 x 103cm / 2013
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(UN) NECESSARIES SANG TAEK OH
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HWA-YOUNG ANNA YOO A DIRECTOR OF ART ANGEL COMPANY
Essay Hwa-Young Anna Yoo Graphic Design Jeffrey Lim / Studio 25 Printer Unico Services Artworks & Images © 2013 Sang Taek Oh This publication may be reproduced in any form for academic, editorial and/or non-commercial purposes without special permission from the artist(s) and gallery, with acknowledgement of the source. For other purposes, prior consent is needed.
‘I created the imaginary closet. My hidden desire is uncontrollable. I feel addicted to the beautiful objects. They are so irresistible. I keep telling myself unconsciously that it is necessary to have those objects although I already noticed they do not fit me.’ - From Sang Taek Oh’s note The (un)Necessaries series threads on themes of Consumerism perpetuated since the mid-17th century to its rampant growth presented in modern day lifestyle. Despite the evident escalation in economic growth of Consumerism, a closer look at the effect of Consumerism on a prosaic lifestyle presents a sense of overt preoccupation or rather a state of being ‘consumed’ by a subconscious drive toward the material acquisition of things. The angle from which Sang-Taek presents his artworks is taken from the captured desires of a consumer, where the line between the necessaries of life and the desire for possessions is blurred. Referencing the artist Barbara Kruger‘s artwork from the 80’s, ‘I shop therefore I am’, Sang-Taek’s interpretation of the message has led him to believe that people are lost in a material world. Individuals constantly strive to define themselves by transient objects that may not necessarily be necessaries. There is a tendency to think or believe that people purchase items that represent who they are as an individual. However, we must take into consideration the difference between understanding personal ta ste and defining identities. Material possessions are a choice and therefore cannot solely define our identity.
In (un)Necessaries, Sang-Taek presents images of a virtual closet that holds luxury brand clothing. Utilizing the outline of clothing on canvas, he intentionally creates a surrealistic space. The relationship between the fluid outline of clothing against the solid black background resembles the aesthetic of oriental paintings. Throughout history, asian art has embodied an appreciation for the beauty of empty space. Through SangTaek’s aesthetic approach, viewers can appreciate elements of oriental beauty and reconsider its relationship to the concept of indispensable human desire. For Sang-Taek, these images are a reminder of the compulsive need to acquire or to possess. Yet, he also acknowledges that these needs are only his wishful desire, resulting in a sense of emptiness fringing on hollow needs. The magnification of the image through print makes it possible for the viewer to experience the unfamiliar magnitude of the apparels. To the artist, the closet is an intimate part of our daily lives. To open it to others, revealing objects of past desires and personal artifacts is like exposing our naked bodies and truths. The expression of his artworks in this series further poses a question to its viewers: ‘How does it feel to peer into these various anonymous closets holding sophisticated garments?’ In (un)Necessaries, Sang-Taek leaves the message open-ended for the viewer to interpret whilst reminding us to think about the complexities of life; the fundamentality of corporeal vulnerability to ephemeral desires.
SANG TAEK OH (b.1970, Korea) has delivered affirmative messages in photography through his gradually progressed series of works. He studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (B.F.A) and San Francisco Art Institute in the United States (M.F.A). The works of Sang Taek Oh has been exhibited extensively in Korea and worldwide, including China, US, and Canada. He was a recipient of an artist residency at National art studio, Goyang and Seoul City Art Studio, Nanji, one of the most prestigious residency programmes in Korea. Also, he has received awards from renowned foundations and museums in Korea, such as, SEMA (Seoul Museum of Art) Awards 2010 and he has established his collections in Korea’s major museums: National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul Museum of Art and Museum of Art Seoul National University. He currently lives and working as a Professor in Seoul Art Institute, Korea. Education 1996 M.F.A. San Francisco Art Institute San Francisco, USA 1994 B.F.A. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, USA 1990 Seoul Institute of Arts Seoul, Korea Residence Programs 2008-09 Seoul City Nanji Art Studio 3rd Artist (Long Term), Seoul, Korea 2007-08 National Art Studio Goyang 4th Artist (Long Term), Goyang, Korea 2007 Artists-in-Residence Instituto Sacatar Itaparica, Brazil Selected Collections - Seoul Museum of Art, Korea - Incheon Art Foundation Art Bank, Korea - National Museum of Contemporary Art Art Bank, Korea - Gyeonggido Museum of Art, Korea
Solo Exhibitions 2013 (un)Necessaries Taksu Gallery, Singapore 2010 Sports II Gallery JinSun, Seoul 2010 City Romance Trunk Gallery, Seoul 2008 Sports Brain Factory, Seoul Process (2008 Contact Photo Festival), Lee Ka-Sing Gallery, Toronto, Canada 2007 Process InSa Art Center, Seoul 2005 Necessaries JuYoung Gallery, Seoul
cover artwork, cropped; Closet #68-70 photographic colour print on canvas 150 x 95cm each / 2013
Selected Group Exhibitions 2013 New Waves, Korea Taksu Gallery, Singapore 2010 Myths of the City Imperial Palace Hotel, Seoul 2009 Honest Lie Zaha Museum, Seoul Incheon Art Flatform Opening Exhibition ‘Dasigeahag’- Incheon Art Flatform, Incheon 9th Songeun Artist Award InSa Art Center, Seoul The White Shirt LG Flagship Culture Space, Seoul Photo Korea ‘Shooting Image’, Seoul COEX, Seoul Awards & Grant 2010 SeMA Young Artists Seoul Museum of Arts, Korea Grant for Visual Art Seoul Foundation Arts & Culture, Korea 2009 9th Songeun Artist Award SongEun Art & Cultural Foundation, Korea
TAKSU is a leading contemporary art gallery and specialist in Southeast Asia. Representing selections of fine art with distinctive urban edge, we are at the forefront of contemporary art in this region. TAKSU works to forge a platform for established and emerging artists to share their pool of creativity and knowledge through its residency programs and exhibitions. Encapsulating the true meaning of the word TAKSU; divine inspiration, energy, and spirit. Suherwan Abu Director, TAKSU Galleries
(UN) NECESSARIES SANG TAEK OH
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