Korean Eye: Energy and Matter

Korean Eye: Energy and Matter was the third exhibition in the Korean Eye series, established in 2009 by Parallel Contemporary Art (founded by David and Serenella Ciclitira) and Standard Chartered Bank to spotlight new work by contemporary Korean artists. After its inaugural display in New York, the exhibition traveled to Abu Dhabi.

Korean Eye: Energy and Matter reflected a new era of diversity in Korean life, politics, and culture, and offered a unique opportunity to learn about and appreciate Korea's rapidly developing art scene. The exhibition also offered an illuminating commentary on the philosophical and aesthetic conditions of modern Korean culture, from virtual reality and the pervasive influence of fantasy and pop culture to the dehumanization inherent in a post-industrial society. By turns ironic, satirical, and metaphorical, the exhibition included photo-sculptures by Seung Hyo Jang; embroidery and acrylic paintings by Young In Hong; a large, imposing shark fabricated from reclaimed and repurposed automobile tires by Yong Ho Ji; and Meekyoung Shin's astonishing “antique” porcelain vases, rendered in soap. Korean Eye: Energy and Matter highlights MAD's focus on materials and processes in contemporary art and design by showcasing works of art in an astonishing range of materials, reflecting the ways in which Korean artists today are exploring both traditional and innovative techniques.

Korean Eye: Energy and Matter was presented by Standard Chartered, the main sponsor. Standard Chartered, the catalyst behind the creation of Korean Eye, leverages its unique international footprint to support and bring life to the exhibitions. Korean Eye was founded in 2009 by David and Serenella Ciclitira, in partnership with Standard Chartered and the Saatchi Gallery, to support emerging and established Korean artists and to bring Korean contemporary art to a worldwide audience. Energy and Matter was curated by Johnson Chang, Serenella Ciclitira, and Nigel Hurst, and by the Museum of Arts and Design’s Nanette L. Laitman Director, Holly Hotchner; William and Mildred Lasdon Chief Curator and Vice President, Exhibitions and Collections, David Revere McFadden; and Charles Bronfman International Curator, Lowery Stokes Sims.