Portrait of Loss (dust)
Sangwoo Yoo, 2023
Discarded Christmas tree
Dimensions variable
Ephemeral Echoes
work by Sangwoo Yoo
April 6 – 28, 2024
On View Sundays
11 A – 2 P
Opening Reception
Saturday, April 6th
4 – 7 P
Join us in celebration of the opening of Sangwoo Yoo’s solo exhibition, Ephemeral Echoes.
Portrait of Loss (incense)
Sangwoo Yoo, 2023
Incense cone of discarded Christmas tree
Sangwoo Yoo creates art with the intention of reawakening the dulled senses of contemporary subjects. While working as an archaeologist, he was drawn to objects imbued with static temporal weight. However, the social reality around him seemed simultaneously oversaturated and depleted, marked by rapid and chaotic changes. Yoo believes that this aggressive society can lead people to lose their cool-headedness and be numbed, which is why they aim to reconnect their lost senses through their art. For instance, in ‘Portrait of Loss’, Sangwoo transformed a discarded Christmas tree into dust with its natural pine scent, creating an olfactory experience that demonstrates the feeling of loss.
In terms of material use, Yoo explores how material can have an ecological cycle, focusing on embracing ephemerality and leaving behind a minimal environmental footprint. Moving forward, he aims to create art that makes a practical contribution to society and the environment and sparks a reaction. Sangwoo views his art as a tool to inspire change and help people regain their senses and connect with their environment.
Portrait of Loss (screwed)
Sangwoo Yoo, 2023
Screw made of discarded Christmas tree
3/8 x 3/8 x 2 in
Sangwoo Yoo, born in Seoul in 1994, is an interdisciplinary artist specializing in sculpture and installation. His practice merges his fascination with nature and archaeology. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) from the University of Seoul in Korea and is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Sculpture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the United States.
Sangwoo has held solo exhibitions at several galleries, including SITE Gallery in Chicago, Dos Gallery, and Red Brick Gallery in Seoul, as well as group exhibitions at Hiestand Gallery in Oxford, Comfort Station in Chicago, KEPCO Art Center, TRAART, and COSA Gallery in Seoul. Notably, Sang Woo was the recipient of the 2024 MASS MOCA Residency Fellowship, fully sponsored by SAIC, won the second-place award in the 2023 Miami University Young Sculptors Competition, and was the grand prize winner of the Hoguk Art Exhibition in Korea in 2016. His works have been displayed in renowned locations such as The War Memorial of Korea, the United Nations Peace Memorial Hall in Busan, the Yanggu Humanities Museum, and the ChunCheon National Museum in Gangwon. One of his pieces is currently part of the collection at The War Memorial of Korea in Seoul.