DUO EXHIBITION

This series of exhibitions, which presents works in a new context in which artists who explore the concepts of media and art in various ways can freely “converse” with one another, is part of Esther Schipper’s ongoing efforts to engage closely with Korean audiences and foster meaningful exchanges. Through this exhibition program, Esther Schipper aims to serve as a vibrant cultural exchange platform, introducing global artists who have collaborated with the gallery over the years to Korea, while also introducing Korean artists to Europe.

Meppayil’s works, which at first glance recalls minimalist abstract paintings, reveal their nature when viewed up close. The geometric patterns created by repeatedly stamping hand tools used in metalwork onto the surface, or the metallic lines sparkling beneath the layers of white gesso, are the result of the artist’s repetitive and performative process, infused with the warmth of human touch.

These works by Meppayil resonate with the works of Yeesookyung, who gathers broken and fragmented pieces, arranges them, and connects them one by one to form new structures. The sharp edges of broken and shattered pottery are connected again through the artist’s hands, and the scars of the past inherent in the shapes are slowly but surely healed through the layers of gold leave that are added. The shards of pottery, which were destroyed and discarded for various reasons, are reborn as complete objects with their own meaning and as new sculptures in Yeesookyung’s works.

The two artists, one from India and the other from South Korea, engage in a dialogue through the language of contemporary art rooted in tradition, creating meaningful new expressions. The performative nature of their creative process and the tactile warmth of their works, crafted through the artists’ hands, embody a profound transformation of the past into a contemporary visual language. This exhibition offers a meaningful opportunity to explore how the encounter between two artists from distinct cultural backgrounds can enrich the discourse of contemporary art.