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Tai-Jung Um

TAI-JUNG UM

UM Tai-Jung : World Worlds Arario Gallery 18 June–2 August 2025 Seoul
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Press Release

ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL presents a solo exhibition by sculptor UM Tai-Jung (b. 1938) titled World Worlds from Wednesday 18 June to Saturday 2 August 2025. The exhibition title is derived from Martin Heidegger’s concept of ‘worlding.’ For Heidegger, ‘worlding’ refers to the idea that the world is not a fixed entity, but rather something that reveals and constitutes itself through its relationship with human beings. In this sense, sculpture can be seen as a creative medium that goes beyond mere materiality, serving as a site and space where humans think, exist, and construct new worlds.

UM Tai-Jung’s artistic practice explores the existence of things as living structures rather than fixed forms, where objects and humans, time and space, constantly intersect within a space of inherent order. Engaging with the physical properties of metals such as steel, copper, and aluminium, he embeds within them layers of time, spirituality, and ontological depth. Drawn to the materiality of steel, UM initially presented intense steel sculptures, later shifting his focus to copper, bronze, and aluminium, delving into sculptural expressions of temporal and philosophical dimensions.

UM’s works evoke poetic and meditative spaces, embodying a philosophical vision that transcends formal simplicity to open up entire worlds—spaces where humans may dwell. His practice reflects an Eastern philosophical outlook, contemplating traditional views of nature and cosmology, and achieving a profound harmony between the material and the spiritual. This exhibition showcases over twenty works—including rarely exhibited sculptures from the 1970s, as well as recent sculptures, paintings, and drawings—offering a comprehensive exploration of UM Tai-Jung’s artistic vision and philosophy.

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Installation Views

Exhibition view: Um Tai-Jung, World Worlds, ARARIO GALLERY, Seoul (18 June–2 August 2025). Courtesy ARARIO GALLERY.
Exhibition view: Um Tai-Jung, World Worlds, ARARIO GALLERY, Seoul (18 June–2 August 2025). Courtesy ARARIO GALLERY.
Exhibition view: Um Tai-Jung, World Worlds, ARARIO GALLERY, Seoul (18 June–2 August 2025). Courtesy ARARIO GALLERY.
Exhibition view: Um Tai-Jung, World Worlds, ARARIO GALLERY, Seoul (18 June–2 August 2025). Courtesy ARARIO GALLERY.
Exhibition view: Um Tai-Jung, World Worlds, ARARIO GALLERY, Seoul (18 June–2 August 2025). Courtesy ARARIO GALLERY.
Exhibition view: Um Tai-Jung, World Worlds, ARARIO GALLERY, Seoul (18 June–2 August 2025). Courtesy ARARIO GALLERY.
Exhibition view: Um Tai-Jung, World Worlds, ARARIO GALLERY, Seoul (18 June–2 August 2025). Courtesy ARARIO GALLERY.
Exhibition view: Um Tai-Jung, World Worlds, ARARIO GALLERY, Seoul (18 June–2 August 2025). Courtesy ARARIO GALLERY.
Exhibition view: Um Tai-Jung, World Worlds, ARARIO GALLERY, Seoul (18 June–2 August 2025). Courtesy ARARIO GALLERY.
Exhibition view: Um Tai-Jung, World Worlds, ARARIO GALLERY, Seoul (18 June–2 August 2025). Courtesy ARARIO GALLERY.
Exhibition view: Um Tai-Jung, World Worlds, ARARIO GALLERY, Seoul (18 June–2 August 2025). Courtesy ARARIO GALLERY.
Exhibition view: Um Tai-Jung, World Worlds, ARARIO GALLERY, Seoul (18 June–2 August 2025). Courtesy ARARIO GALLERY.
Exhibition view: Um Tai-Jung, World Worlds, ARARIO GALLERY, Seoul (18 June–2 August 2025). Courtesy ARARIO GALLERY.
About the Artist

Born in 1938 in Mungyeong, South Korea, Tai-Jung UM graduated from the Department of Sculpture in College of Fine Arts at Seoul National University, studied at Saint Martin’s School of Art in London, and held positions as a research professor at Berlin Fine Arts University and professor in the Department of Sculpture in College of Fine Arts at Seoul National University. He was awarded the Prime Minister’s Prize from the National Art Exhibition (1967), Grand Prize from the Korean Art Grand-Prix Exhibition (1971), and Mirok Li Prize from the 7th Mirok Li Award (2012). Starting with a solo exhibition at Gwangju Gallery (1972), he has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions including the 12th Biennale de Sao Paulo (1973), Woodstock Art Gallery (1980), Georg Kolbe Museum (2005), and Sungkok Art Museum (2009). In 2004, he was appointed Emeritus Professor at Seoul National University, and since 2013, he has served as a member of The National Academy of Arts of the Republic of Korea.

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About the Gallery

ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL opened its doors in Sogyeok-dong in 2006. Since then, it has established its foothold as a leading contemporary art gallery in Korea and across Asia, continuing to be at the forefront of the international art scene through its efficient representation system and bold exhibitions. In March 2014, ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL relocated near the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. In April 2018, ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL RYSE HOTEL, a second exhibition space in Seoul, opened in the Hongdae area. Running concurrently with its primary location until November 2019, the project space aimed to mirror the experimental spirit of the neighbourhood through its innovative programming. In 2022, ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL ended its Sogyeok-dong era. However, the various experimentation and ventures carried out in the gallery’s previous spaces continue to shape its future at its current location in Wonseo-dong, which reopened in February 2023. Through the preemptive discovery of young artists, steady support of represented artists, and the realisation of meaningful and original exhibitions, ARARIO GALLERY SEOUL aims to continually grow and contribute to the growth of the contemporary art scene in Korea.

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85, Yulgok-ro
Jongno-gu
Seoul
South Korea
Opening Hours
Tuesday – Saturday
11am – 6pm

Closed on Mondays, Sundays, New Year's and Chuseok holidays
(1)
Seoul 85, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu
Arario Gallery contemporary art gallery in Seoul South Korea
Arario Gallery
85, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
+82 2541 5701
http://www.arariogallery.com

Opening hours
Tuesday – Saturday
11am – 6pm

Closed on Mondays, Sundays, New Year's and Chuseok holidays
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