Haegue Yang, a Seoul-born artist known for her immersive sculptures and installations, is recognized for using common materials and traditional craft techniques to explore pressing sociopolitical issues like migration, labor, and exile. While her three-dimensional works have garnered international acclaim, a recent exhibition at The Arts Club of Chicago delves into another facet of her practice: painting, prints, and collages.
The exhibition, titled “Flat Works,” showcases two decades of Yang’s flat artworks, including her mesmerizing series called “Mesmerizing Mesh.” This series features geometric and floral motifs created from cut and folded hanji, a type of paper made from mulberry bark. Drawing inspiration from shamanistic traditions in Korea, Japan, China, and Slavic regions, “Mesmerizing Mesh” alludes to rituals involving sheets hung from ceilings to ward off evil spirits and soul sheets used to honor deceased beings.
Despite being two-dimensional, Yang’s collages convey depth and complexity, inviting viewers into a mystical realm. The layered compositions serve as portals into a captivating world, recontextualizing humble materials into mesmerizing artworks.
“Flat Works” is on display at The Arts Club of Chicago until December 20, offering visitors a glimpse into the diverse and multifaceted artistic practice of Haegue Yang. The exhibition showcases the artist’s ability to transform everyday materials into thought-provoking and visually stunning pieces that blur the line between art and craft.
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