JANG KOAL

Through the figure of a woman with gracefully flowing long hair, Jang Koal shares fragments of her life. The women in Jang Koal’s works exist in the artist’s parallel world. Surreal, mysterious, and sometimes ambiguous expressions unfold in her parallel world, where free fantasy and imagination take place. These release the artist into a space where rules and conditions are different from reality, creating a fascinating tension with the lives of the women in her works.

In a world that unfolds on layers of Hanji, or traditional Korean paper, women enjoy their most relaxing and precious moments. A fluttering red heart shared with a pair of birds against a beautiful backdrop of yellow flowers heralding the arrival of spring; an artwork of oysters hanging on the wall behind a woman relaxing with her arms stretched out behind her back and her hands clasped behind her head; a cup of greenish tea filling the room with its own scent and colour; a ghostly figure that appears to be either a representation of someone or a mischievous figure; and a sleeveless T-shirt with a cat print with its mouth closed looking neat and smart. Such fun and playful elements make the moments of Jang Koal’s artwork even more special. The contrast between the intricate patterns and the sharp monochromatic distinctions makes the viewer feel at once comfortable and unfamiliar, focusing the viewer’s attention on the composition. The black cats that often appear in the background of the works, the colours of nature that cannot be found in the real world, and other fascinating devices in the works invite the viewer to enter the work and narrow the distance between the viewer and her parallel world.

Hair is an integral part of her work. This is particularly evident in this exhibition, Ghost Town, which features a woman combing her hair with a wooden comb. Hair symbolises many things, including wisdom, power, sacredness, gender, status, and personal identity, and it appears in many cultures and mythologies. In Jang Koal’s work, well-combed, shiny hair signifies an empowered woman and is used as an important element in her artwork. In the works Come Under My Wings, Overthinker, and The Balance of Things, elegant hair is emphasised, inviting the viewer to come as close as possible to touch the hair.

American anthropologist Edward T. Hall defined human relationships by the distance between people. 1.22–3.66 meters is the social distance, a range that allows normal conversation. 0.46–1.22 meters, the distance within arm’s reach, is private and moderately intimate, and 0.46 meters or less, the space in your hair where you can feel your breath, is very intimate. With this exhibition, the artist continues her exploration of the space of thought and private space by measuring the distance between the work and the viewer and her parallel world.

The space where one can feel comfortable and the time and elements where one can feel peaceful are important themes in her work. Accordingly, the idea of private space is of great significance to Jang Koal. Perhaps through her exhibition Ghost Town, the artist is proposing a relaxed but intimate distance for viewers to share and enjoy together.