A dozen works by South Korean artists Hwang Ran and Shin Ho-yoon are on display at Angle, a lifestyle bar in Nanshan District. Admissions are free.
Shin’s works on display include stainless steel and paper sculptures of religious figures and mythical gods. The sculptures appear to alternately solidify and disappear when viewed from different angles.
"There is no essence- Guan Yin Bodhisattva" by Shin Ho-yoon | Paper, urethane clear on paper
"There is no essence- Hercules" by Shin Ho-yoon | Stainless Steel
Made from hand-cut, urethane-coated strips of paper joined together with paper joints, the intricate paper sculptures display amazing strength and fragility. Shin cites a wide range of influences for his works, such as religion, politics, and his social surroundings. “We are judged by our appearances and the material things we own,” he concluded. “When I looked closer enough to various social phenomena, I realized there is no essence.” Using paper as the material for his sculptures, Shin came up with the series “There Is No Essence,” portraying the Virgin Mary, Guanyin Bodhisattva, Guan Yu (a historical figure worshipped as god) and others. Shin notes that the simplicity of his subjects’ faces are inspired by Buddhist art, which he finds to be calming and meditative.
Hwang, a sculptural artist known for her mixed-media work with crystals, buttons, beads, pins, and thread, brings installations featuring flowers, birds, a vase and a Buddhist alcove — classical Asian motifs. The result is somewhere between a traditional painting and a contemporary sculpture.
"Looking for Myself" by Hwang Ran｜Buttons, Thread on Wood Panel
The process of building large installations is time consuming and repetitive, and it requires manual effort which provides a form of self-meditation, Hwang explains of her labor-intensive practice.
"Healing Forest_TWHR" by Hwang Ran | Buttons, Beads, Pins on Wood Panel
The end product — in the case of “Healing Forest,” which consists of a myriad of shiny tiny buttons and beads laboriously pinned onto an azure wood panel — gives the impression of ethereal beauty.
Paying careful attention to the smallest element while keeping your eye on the bigger picture is the delicate balance that animates beadwork. As Hwang puts it, “The core of my practice is to enliven these tiny beautiful objects.”
The exhibition is co-hosted by Easel Gallery.
Dates: Until July 28
Venue: Angle, South Area, One Shenzhen Bay, Nanshan District (南山区深圳湾壹号南区安格)
Metro: Line 2 to Dengliang Station (登良站), Exit C