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Hwang Seontae: The Power of Light

Past exhibition
5 November - 5 December 2021
  • Overview
  • Works
  • Installation Views
Overview
Hwang Seontae, The Power of Light
Pontone Gallery is thrilled to present a new collection of lightboxes by Korean artist Hwang Seontae. Carefully crafted from sandblasted glass and discreet LED lamps, these works depict contemporary, domestic interiors. These calm and ordered scenes are lit by windows which frame views of natural landscape. In contrast to the colour of the outdoors, these idealised, indoor spaces are monochromatic, formed from graphically-rendered lines and flat, grey halftones. This is a rigidly controlled and measured vision of utopia.

Both in their content and their method of construction the pictures emphasise the articulating power of light. In the case of the images, it is ‘natural’ and therefore of the sun. Seontae’s comfortable oases can only be experienced by its action. It nurtures the man-made aspirations of the architecture. The natural world, glimpsed through the windows, powers that which happens within.

 

This world is unpopulated. There is a sense of absence, or perhaps, imminent presence. These homes are not neglected or in decay, they betray no evidence of abandonment or disaster, but are nevertheless, ambiguous. They are prepared for occupation, for relaxation. All is ready: chairs, tables and lamps are arranged just-so, pictures are hung, fruit and flowers set in bowls and vases. They are perfectly-staged backdrops for human activity. Where are the actors?

 

We are invited to concoct a story. What settings are these? Is it a dystopian dream world of inexplicable disappearance or, more prosaically, a homecoming, reunion, or familial confrontation? Drama springs out of what first appears anodyne and non-committal, a formal exercise in symmetry and harmonic arrangement. We can interpret these works as saying that sometimes, contrary to appearances, this is a far from frictionless existence. Our costly refuges, beautiful and soothing as they may be, are fragile holding-pens for all the messy turmoil of our lives. In Seontae’s work this idea is illuminated and redeemed by the life force of the sun.

 

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Works
  • The Space with Sunshine, 2016 Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit 51 x 68 x 4 cm 20 x 27 x 1.5 in
    The Space with Sunshine, 2016
    Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit
    51 x 68 x 4 cm
    20 x 27 x 1.5 in
  • The Space with Sunshine, 2021 Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit 50 x 67 x 4 cm 19.5 x 26.5 x 1.5 in
    The Space with Sunshine, 2021
    Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit
    50 x 67 x 4 cm
    19.5 x 26.5 x 1.5 in
  • The Space with Sunshine, 2019 Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit 67 x 50 x 4 cm 26.5 x 19.5 x 1.5 in
    The Space with Sunshine, 2019
    Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit
    67 x 50 x 4 cm
    26.5 x 19.5 x 1.5 in
  • The Space with Sunshine, 2019 Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit 79 x 101 x 5 cm 31 x 40 x 2 in
    The Space with Sunshine, 2019
    Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit
    79 x 101 x 5 cm
    31 x 40 x 2 in
  • The Space with Sunshine, 2020 Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit 62 x 218 x 4 cm 24.5 x 86 x 1.5 in
    The Space with Sunshine, 2020
    Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit
    62 x 218 x 4 cm
    24.5 x 86 x 1.5 in
  • The Space with Sunshine, 2020 Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit 87 x 202 x 4 cm 34.5 x 79.5 x 1.5 in
    The Space with Sunshine, 2020
    Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit
    87 x 202 x 4 cm
    34.5 x 79.5 x 1.5 in
  • The Space with Sunshine, 2021 Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit 87 x 202 x 4 cm 34.5 x 79.5 x 1.5 in
    The Space with Sunshine, 2021
    Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit
    87 x 202 x 4 cm
    34.5 x 79.5 x 1.5 in
  • The Space with Sunshine, 2020 Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit 79 x 101 x 4 cm 31.1 x 39.8 x 1.6 in
    The Space with Sunshine, 2020
    Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit
    79 x 101 x 4 cm
    31.1 x 39.8 x 1.6 in
  • The Space with Sunshine, 2021 Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit 67 x 50 x 4 cm 26.5 x 19.5 x 1.5 in
    The Space with Sunshine, 2021
    Tempered Glass, Sandblast & LED Backlit
    67 x 50 x 4 cm
    26.5 x 19.5 x 1.5 in
Installation Views
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Hwang Seontae 1
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Hwang Seontae 5
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Hwang Seontae 3
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Hwang Seontae 6
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Hwang Seontae 4
Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Hwang Seontae 2

Related artist

  • Hwang Seontae

    Hwang Seontae

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