Ilwoo Space Explores Presence with 8 Artists in Exhibition 'Rubbing Your Name'
Jason Yim / Published November 28, 2024 08:49 PM
Jason Yim
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of Ilwoo Space
The Ilwoo Foundation presents Rubbing Your Name, an exhibition running from November 13 to December 15, 2024, at Ilwoo Space. Featuring works by eight contemporary artists—Kim Sang So, Kim Se Il, Koo Ja Myung, Noh Chung Hyun, Park Kwang Soo, Park No Wan, Park Ji Hoon, and Choi Seo Hee—the exhibition investigates the nuanced relationship between presence, absence, and the materiality of names in the context of human connection and memory.
The title, Rubbing Your Name, is a metaphorical gesture, evoking the act of physically engaging with a name as a tangible object rather than a sound. Unlike calling out a name, which reaches outward, or writing it down, which memorializes, rubbing a name emphasizes direct contact. This tactile action symbolizes a longing to bridge the gap between what is present and absent, between the living and the memory of what once was.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of Ilwoo Space
The exhibition suggests that names, often used to denote identity, lose their functional role when transformed into static artifacts. A name etched on a gravestone, for example, shifts from an auditory marker of recognition to a silent relic of the past. This notion of names as materialized memory underpins many of the works on display, as the artists grapple with the tension between the intangible essence of existence and its physical manifestations.
The participating artists explore these themes through diverse mediums, including painting, sculpture, and installation. Their works embody a shared preoccupation with the limitations of representation. Fragmented figures, blurred outlines, and abstract forms dominate the exhibition, resisting clear identification. These distortions evoke the impermanence of form and the ambiguity of identity, leaving the audience to confront the paradox of perceiving what is both present and elusive.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of Ilwoo Space
One of the exhibition’s central premises is the idea that representation is inherently constrained by the physical properties of the medium. Whether in the fleeting moments captured in a painting or the solid permanence of sculpture, the works underscore the impossibility of fully encapsulating the essence of existence. This limitation is not a failure but a deliberate acknowledgment of the gap between reality and its artistic interpretation.
Each piece in the exhibition reflects a deeply introspective process. Brushstrokes, sculptural textures, and layered forms serve as traces of the artists’ attempts to engage with the unseen or undefined. The interplay between the material and immaterial results in works that act as intermediaries—fragments of an artist’s experience, reimagined as vessels for others to encounter and interpret.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of Ilwoo Space
The works also interrogate the relationship between the artist and their subject. By exposing the inherent imperfections in their chosen media, the artists emphasize the fragility and impermanence of their connections. Paintings feature hazy figures or overlapping shapes, while sculptures present fragmented or distorted bodies, symbolizing the elusive nature of the subjects they seek to depict.
Yet, these imperfections do not detract from the work's power. Instead, they highlight the human experience of longing, loss, and the desire for connection. The tactile qualities of the pieces—the roughness of a sculptural groove or the fluidity of a painted line—invite viewers to engage with the works not only visually but physically and emotionally, evoking their memories and associations.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of Ilwoo Space
In Rubbing Your Name, the artists embrace the dissonance between the material and the metaphysical, crafting a space where presence and absence coexist. The exhibition becomes a tribute to moments of connection, however fleeting, and a meditation on the enduring impact of those who have touched our lives.
Ultimately, Rubbing Your Name serves as a poignant reminder that while names and identities may fade or fragment over time, the act of reaching out—whether through art, memory, or touch—allows us to hold onto what remains, however imperfectly. The exhibition invites audiences to explore these fragile yet profound connections and to reflect on their place within the continuum of presence and absence.
Sayart / Jason Yim, yimjongho1969@gmail.com
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of Ilwoo Space
The Ilwoo Foundation presents Rubbing Your Name, an exhibition running from November 13 to December 15, 2024, at Ilwoo Space. Featuring works by eight contemporary artists—Kim Sang So, Kim Se Il, Koo Ja Myung, Noh Chung Hyun, Park Kwang Soo, Park No Wan, Park Ji Hoon, and Choi Seo Hee—the exhibition investigates the nuanced relationship between presence, absence, and the materiality of names in the context of human connection and memory.
The title, Rubbing Your Name, is a metaphorical gesture, evoking the act of physically engaging with a name as a tangible object rather than a sound. Unlike calling out a name, which reaches outward, or writing it down, which memorializes, rubbing a name emphasizes direct contact. This tactile action symbolizes a longing to bridge the gap between what is present and absent, between the living and the memory of what once was.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of Ilwoo Space
The exhibition suggests that names, often used to denote identity, lose their functional role when transformed into static artifacts. A name etched on a gravestone, for example, shifts from an auditory marker of recognition to a silent relic of the past. This notion of names as materialized memory underpins many of the works on display, as the artists grapple with the tension between the intangible essence of existence and its physical manifestations.
The participating artists explore these themes through diverse mediums, including painting, sculpture, and installation. Their works embody a shared preoccupation with the limitations of representation. Fragmented figures, blurred outlines, and abstract forms dominate the exhibition, resisting clear identification. These distortions evoke the impermanence of form and the ambiguity of identity, leaving the audience to confront the paradox of perceiving what is both present and elusive.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of Ilwoo Space
One of the exhibition’s central premises is the idea that representation is inherently constrained by the physical properties of the medium. Whether in the fleeting moments captured in a painting or the solid permanence of sculpture, the works underscore the impossibility of fully encapsulating the essence of existence. This limitation is not a failure but a deliberate acknowledgment of the gap between reality and its artistic interpretation.
Each piece in the exhibition reflects a deeply introspective process. Brushstrokes, sculptural textures, and layered forms serve as traces of the artists’ attempts to engage with the unseen or undefined. The interplay between the material and immaterial results in works that act as intermediaries—fragments of an artist’s experience, reimagined as vessels for others to encounter and interpret.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of Ilwoo Space
The works also interrogate the relationship between the artist and their subject. By exposing the inherent imperfections in their chosen media, the artists emphasize the fragility and impermanence of their connections. Paintings feature hazy figures or overlapping shapes, while sculptures present fragmented or distorted bodies, symbolizing the elusive nature of the subjects they seek to depict.
Yet, these imperfections do not detract from the work's power. Instead, they highlight the human experience of longing, loss, and the desire for connection. The tactile qualities of the pieces—the roughness of a sculptural groove or the fluidity of a painted line—invite viewers to engage with the works not only visually but physically and emotionally, evoking their memories and associations.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of Ilwoo Space
In Rubbing Your Name, the artists embrace the dissonance between the material and the metaphysical, crafting a space where presence and absence coexist. The exhibition becomes a tribute to moments of connection, however fleeting, and a meditation on the enduring impact of those who have touched our lives.
Ultimately, Rubbing Your Name serves as a poignant reminder that while names and identities may fade or fragment over time, the act of reaching out—whether through art, memory, or touch—allows us to hold onto what remains, however imperfectly. The exhibition invites audiences to explore these fragile yet profound connections and to reflect on their place within the continuum of presence and absence.
