Across the Ocean, a two-person ceramics exhibition featuring artists Jihye Han and Yeonsoo Kim, is on exhibit through March 3 at the Galveston College Art Gallery. The exhibition is free and open to the public.
In addition, an artist’s workshop will be held on March 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Galveston College Ceramics Studio, Room FA-323, and is open to ceramic artists. A closing reception will be held following the workshop, which will be free and open to the public from 4:30 to 6 p.m., with an artist’s talk at 4:45 p.m. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.
The exhibition will investigate the spectrum between displacement and belonging as a Korean American to claim and locate notions of home. This show represents a physical manifestation of memory, exploring ideas of personal history, cultural tradition, and belief systems in the contemporary world.
Both artists use clay as well as hand-building techniques to blend traditional processes with contemporary ideas. They are proposing to explore the ideas within relational aesthetics and contemporary ceramics through the investigation of Korean culture and identity politics.
Across the Ocean will be an excavation of both memory and experience from cultural and social boundaries to explore notions of “home” and “homeland.” The artists are interested in the contemporary movement of ceramic work that integrates sculpture and installation, and in the ability to allow the audience to see things that they had taken for granted.
This body of work seeks to visually identify experiences of displacement in global society and within cultures of Korea and in the United States. Interaction is central to experiencing the piece. The viewer can touch, feel, and hear to discover a variety of feelings and emotions.
Jihye Han’s sculpture explores spatial relationships through ceramic objects and found materials. Han’s work bridges the gap between people and their environment by constructing abstract narratives with familiar materials and interactive aspects. Her installations examine the duality between the tangible and intangible into constructions of substantial shape, form and space.
Yeonsoo Kim’s desire is to find and develop his aesthetic sense by focusing on the relationship of the old and new. The interest in this relationship is getting wider and wider until it reaches human, nature and space.
Until now, a lot of effort and time were spent developing his works, yet he wants to create more inspirational and touching works that integrate both technique and ideas through ceaseless efforts while developing his artistic views and values. He tasked himself with the job of creating a new hand-built vessel of mask daily. The combined works act as a type of diary or as a call “to listen to my inner voice.” His works explore identity and psychological conditions through the processes of making and daily life.
The Galveston College Art Gallery, located on the third floor of the Galveston College Fine Arts Building, is free and open to the public during normal campus hours. For more information about the Galveston College Art program or Art Gallery, contact Amanda Barry Jones, the Gallery Curator and Visual Arts Coordinator at [email protected].
ABOUT GALVESTON COLLEGE
Galveston College was founded in 1967 and is a comprehensive community college providing the residents of Galveston Island and the surrounding region with academic, workforce development, continuing education and community service programs.