MISE-EN-SCENE
March 28–June 2, 2013
Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art
747-18 Hannam-Dong, Yongsan-Gu,
Seoul, Korea 140-893
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 10:30am–6pm
Closed on Mondays
T +82-2-2014-6900
Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art is delighted to present MISE-EN-SCENE, which looks into the interrelationship between film and art and cast new light on the diversity of contemporary art by featuring the works of art that eight domestic and foreign artists created in the 2000s by employing cinematic elements.
The French term ‘mise-en-scène’ originates in the theater to refer to the stage arrangement for a theatrical production, but in the field of film its definition is extended to include every visual component that appears in the composition of the shot. Such articulation of theatrical or cinematic space has been reflecting the influence of Western painting that tends to capture and depict a dramatic moment, and at the same time it has been utilized in a variety of ways in the inquiries into the aspects of everyday life and the unconscious in the practices of contemporary art and in the reinterpretation of the histories of art and film.
This exhibition intends to map the possibility of the mise-en-scene aesthetics in the contemporary art scene by observing the works of those artists who incorporate such cinematic tactics. The artistic endeavors of the participating artists—AES+F, Gregory Crewdson, Thomas Demand, Adad Hannah, June Yeondoo, Eve Sussman|Rufus Corporation, Yang Fudong, and Zin Kijong—clarify a passage of contemporary art through their compositions with which the complexity of human emotions is illuminated. These artists’ intricately choreographed images attest to the latest tendency to readopt narrative conventions: Video works in which the scenes from the film classics of the West are recomposed; fabricated photographs resemble film stills; installation works consist both of sets and video images. In this respect, the exhibition allows one to reweigh the diversity of contemporary art in this era of postmodernism.
A crucial necessity of these artworks is one’s viewing attitude to look for details in large-scale works that cannot be easily seen in plates and to attempt to grasp the relationship between the whole composition and its componential parts. The photographs, video works, and installations featured in this exhibition will captivate the viewer with their vivid and animated verisimilitudes that can also be found in the shots of a film. Also, their open invitations to participate and interpret will let the viewer come up with his or her own story.
Curated by Koo Kyunghwa, Curator of Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art
Sponsored by Samsung Life Insurance, co. Ltd.
Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art was opened in central Seoul in 2004 and providesa unique environment to house the comprehensive collections of traditional and contemporary art in Korea. Three buildings make up the composite complex. Museum 1 is devoted to the exhibition of traditional Korean artwork. Museum 2 showcases modern and contemporary works by both Korean and foreign artists. Finally, the Samsung Child Education & Culture Center supplements the two Museums by contributing to the cultural education of our future leaders. This cultural complex was designed by three internationally acclaimed architects, Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel and Rem Koolhaas. The three buildings exist in harmony with each other, though each piece has its own uniqueness. These architectural works are designed to accommodate the past, present, and future of art and culture.
The museum is committed to establishing and preserving a new interpretation and perspective of traditional Korean art, encouraging and presenting new trends in Korean modern art, and displaying international contemporary art that reflects the preeminent values of our time.
Press contact:
Lee Kyoung Ock
Public Relations Team
T. +82-2-2014-6552 / kyoungock81.lee [at] samsung.com
