Yong Wook Yun’s works, in which thousands of small plastic pieces in the size of little finger’s knuckle are elaborately arranged, make us think again about the value of the existence of “light” as a secondary medium that supports the visual reality of art. Light is necessary element of his works. In this case, the necessary part refers to the light’s effect as an active element. The light plays a more active role than its position taken in the usual works on canvas, meaning that it does more than making the viewer to perceive form and color by physical contact and reflection with the color on the work’s surface.As a painter adjusts gradation to express shadows, the work appears differently as the light’s intensity, position, and arrangement with each plastic piece changes. Because of this characteristic directly relating to the exterior materiality, the viewer unintentionally tends to shifts the viewpoints while looing at the works. The viewer approaches the artist’s world by treating the two-dimensional object as a sculptural work.
Read MoreThe small plastic pieces remind us of simplified shape of human tongue. As the combined voice of each member of society forms more definite public opinion, the abstract and disconnected pieces create familiar image by uniting with neighboring pieces. One might conclude that the artist attempted to approach Pop Art due to the use of appropriated images, but the elaborate arrangements of independent pieces and geometric finishing that the each piece creates with the light secretly show the artist’s minimalistic attempt with the light as medium.
