Hwang Soon Tae: Tranquillity of Light in Rooms
Garden View Tempered glass, Decalcomania and LED backlit, 180 x 104 x 5.5 cm, 2013 | Living Room with Garden View II Tempered glass, Decalcomania and LED backlit, 116 x 73 x 5.5 cm, 2012 (Source: Courtesy of The Artist)
Hwang Soon Tae, born in South Korea in 1972, studied at Kwang Hee University and studied glass art and sculpture at the University of Art and Design, Haelle, Germany. Later, he completed his masters in glass art at the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design in 2006.
Room with View of Trees Tempered glass, Decalcomania and LED backlit, 71 x 53 x 4.5 cm, 2013 | Living Room from Above Tempered glass, Decalcomania and LED backlit, 102 x 80 x 5 cm, 2013 (Source: Courtesy of the Artist)
His works, Sunlight, were inspired by Edward Hopper’s moments of suspended time and his apartment (New York) and flat (Seoul) which is recreated by Korean conceptualist, Suh Do Ho. He is mesmerized with simplicity of calmness from the rooms which are decorated with just nylon and silk drapes. Each work of Sunlight is made up of tempered glass, decalcomania and LED backlit. It consists a combination of layers while each of them is drawn out. The main focus is how the light enters into the windows, including with blinds, and shine bright in dark rooms.
The Sunshine Room, Tempered glass, Decalcomania and LED backlit, 80 x 102 x 5 cm, 2013 | Sky View Tempered glass, Decalcomania and LED backlit, 116 x 73 x 4.5 cm, 2013 (Source: Courtesy of The Artist)
Hwang questions the type of space that we live in: public or personal space. It reflects who we live in the environment. What we expect to live comfortably in these spaces? Also, I look at them as a form of escapism. Getting away from the crowded and noisy area to a place that is calm and peaceful. It lets me jump into these spaces and relax. There are times that I think that I want to sit down and do my leisure things in my personal space everyday. Even when living in bustling cities or suburbs, a personal space is the place to have your own freedom to do what you want. The rooms with calm light set the viewers mood in relaxation. There is a few more days (1 – 2 April) to go to see Hwang’s works at the Albemarle Gallery, London.
