WON SeoungWon

There is an island.
On this island, many animals live.
The types of animals that live on the island change with their environment.
Trapped within the island’s limited border, the animals complete their own island
through adapting, compromising or overcoming their environment.

I regarded the form of island created by the animals as “character”.
Like the island with various animals, humans have complex characters.
But the characters revealed through inter-human relation are only a small part
of one’s numerous characters.
Perhaps they are the properly selected characters which one considers necessary
for the sake of harmony.
Humans each have their own island filled with animals.

Relationship starts by meeting between animals on the edge of the island.
The beginning of relationships and encounters can vary depending on
their initial meeting place.
It may begin by meeting favorable animals or fussy ones who are aware of strangers.
Toward the center of the island, there are animals that like to hide or are reluctant
to exposing themselves.
Through long and frequent encounters, we can meet the hidden animals.

Regardless of meeting time and frequency, we may unexpectedly witness
the opponent’s hidden animals.
Faced with awkward place, situation or opponent, these animals run
from their well hidden place of the island and reveal their extreme nature.

Like the heavy weight of responsibility towards family,
the perfection concentrated solely on the garden space,
the boastfulness displayed through the simple kitchen garden,
the obsession lingering on housing,
the ego match with the closest person,

These are the deepest parts of us, the ones we all possess but never want to reveal.

The animals of others, which are often witnessed despite of their deep hiding places,
make my animals feel confused and anxious.
So my island becomes more and more complex.

WON SeoungWon
Born in    1972, Goyang, Korea

EDUCATION
2005    M.F.A, Kunsthochschule fur Medien Koln in Media Art, Diploma by Prof.
              Valie Export
2002    M.F.A, Kunstakademie Duesseldorf, Akademiebrief( Diploma) and
              Meisterschuelerin by Prof. Klaus
1995    B.F.A, in Sculpture, Chungang University, Seoul, Korea
    
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITION
2014    Sceptical Orgy, Podbielsky Contemporary, Berlin, Germany
2013    Character Episode I, Artside Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2010    1978, My Age of Seven, Gana Contemporary, Seoul, Korea
2008    Tomorrow, alternative space LOOP, Seoul, Korea
2005    Gana-beaubourg , Paris, France

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITION
2014    Go-Betweens, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
2013    Transfer korea-NRW, Osthaus Museum of Art, Hagen, Germany
2012    CITY STATES- Liverpool Biennial 2012, UK
              Nostalgia-East Asia Contemporary Art Exhibition, MoCA Shanghai,
              Shanghai, China
2011    Constructed Myths, Noorderlicht Gallery, Groningen, Netherlands
              The End of the Dream, Mica Moca Project, Berlin, Germany
              Seoul-City Exploration, Seoul Museum of Modern Art, Seoul, Korea
2010    Now Asian Artist, Busan Biennale, Busan, Korea
2009    Contemporary Korean Photography-Chaotic Harmony,
              Museum Fine Art Houston, U.S.A
              Variety, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art,
              Gwacheon, Korea