CHENNAI: InKo Centre has just unveiled an exhibition of still-life paintings by Seoul-based artist Lim Soosik at its virtual gallery, Prism.
Titled 'Chaekgado', which refers to still-life paintings, mainly books and related objects such as decorative bibelot, antiques, stationery and flowers, this type of paintings were popularly produced in the late Joseon period by court painters under the patronage of King Jeongjo (1776-1800).
Chaekgado, which was mostly images of a study in King Jeongjo's time, later came to be accentuated with antiques and sumptuous ceramic vases. With real rather than imagined objects depicted, Chaekgado has evoked great curiosity among researchers, scholars and painters, providing a window to the social norms of the Joseon period in Korean history.
Lim Soosik's photographic series constitutes a contemporary version of Chaekgado. His Chaekgado project is characterized by the deconstruction and construction of perspective. He photographs the bookcases in several parts and from different points of view. The fragmented images are then printed on Korean traditional paper, Hanji, which the artist assembles by hand-stitching with needles. Through this process of photo-collage the completed artwork not only obtains a particular visual distortion but also turns into a unique piece that a normal reproductive photographic work cannot attain.
Just as a bookcase that is being filled, book by book over a long period of time, Lim Soosik's work is assembled piece by piece, carrying a unique value, in terms of time, space, presence and absence, memory and identity.
The exhibition is on till March 31. To visit, go to www.inkocentre.org/Virtual_Connect_Infotainment.html