Seochon's Gallery Simon 'Becoming With' Exhibition: The Artistic World of Yo-E Ryou, an Artist Invited to La Biennale di Venezia

At 'Gallery Simon', which captures the scenery of Inwangsan Mountain in Seochon, Seoul, a planned exhibition titled 'Becoming With' featuring three female artists is being held. According to a video from the YouTube channel 'mimisangin', this exhibition was planned by mimisangin herself, who took on the roles of curator and docent, carrying a message of solidarity and coexistence: "We are never alone; we exist together and are connected." This exhibition features artists Kim Ju-hyeon (sculpture), Yo-E Ryou (video), and Park Mi-na (painting), each unraveling the meaning of 'being together' through different media.

Artist Kim Ju-hyeon, who draws the universe and life using principles of topology

Participating artist Kim Ju-hyeon presents works that expand space and sculpture based on the principles of topology and the laws of nature. According to the explanation in the video, the artist's work is characterized by numerous lines and light modules gathering to form a single shape. In particular, works reminiscent of an 'extended Möbius strip' visualize the principles of cosmic creation, where an inner surface becomes an outer surface, which then becomes the outer surface of a new dimension. This is also connected to the principle where space sucked into a black hole becomes the exterior of a new space.

In the working process, the artist uses a method of pressing down hard with a pencil, which requires a high level of concentration. The artist mentioned that looking at the shapes of the works, she sometimes thought of 'balloons' that breathe life into someone. A balloon symbolizes a seed, the beginning of life, as well as a fruit, the result, and the artist embeds this vitality into her works. Within the exhibition space, Kim Ju-hyeon's works are also installed in a secret space under the stairs, providing visitors with a unique sense of space.

Artist Yo-E Ryou's 'Hydro-feminism', noted by La Biennale di Venezia

One of the most eye-catching figures in this exhibition is Yo-E Ryou, the only Korean artist invited to the main exhibition of this year's La Biennale di Venezia. Artist Yo-E Ryou lives within the Jeju Haenyeo community and translates what she has experienced directly with her body into her work. The video introduces works based on the sense of equilibrium she felt underwater—specifically, the 'semicircular canals' inside the ear. The artist uses a combination of imagination and photography to depict this invisible organ, which she only became aware of at the moment her ears became muffled while submerged in water.

Yo-E Ryou's work takes the form of transparent glass plates layered over drawings made with pencils on paper. These glass plates provide a visual effect that looks like water and serve as a medium connecting the knowledge and experiences the artist learned through water. Aesthetically, it can also be interpreted through the perspective of 'Hydro-feminism', which emphasizes the fluidity and connectivity of water. This is a concept that expands feminine values by utilizing the property of water to penetrate and connect people. Rather than simply depicting Haenyeo as objects of consumption, the artist shows a relationship of living in accordance with the laws of nature through scenes such as Haenyeo leaning on each other to rest in their daily lives.

Color Magician Park Mi-na breaks the taboos of the art world

Painter Park Mi-na greets visitors with a delightful sense of color. The video introduces an anecdote where the artist previously received advice from the Korean art world that "if you draw faces too large, the work does not sell well," and conveys the process of her unraveling this in her own way. Park Mi-na's 'Scream' series may be reminiscent of Munch's work, but it hides the artist's own meticulous rules within it.

When creating gradation effects, Park Mi-na uses a unique methodology of not mixing colors directly, but instead utilizing the subtle differences in pigment colors between different manufacturers. This well demonstrates the artist's way of working, attempting change and innovation within given conditions. Her work is characterized by lovely and witty expressions, such as simplifying body parts like the nose, ears, and mouth while drawing heart-shaped uvulas. The artist has a background of studying at Hunter College in the United States and attempts variations of color within strict rules.

This 'Becoming With' exhibition will be held at Gallery Simon, located in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, until Thursday, October 15. Visiting hours are from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday, and it is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and on the day of Chuseok, September 25. It is a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Gyeongbokgung Station on Subway Line 3, and admission is free.