DIESEL ART GALLERY is pleased to announce a solo exhibition by artist Hyunwoo Lee, titled "ACARDIUS," curated by CON_ Gallery from Nihonbashi Bakurocho. The exhibition will be held from August 23, 2024 (Friday) to October 23, 2024 (Wednesday).

This exhibition will feature new works available for viewing and purchase, along with limited edition merchandise created specifically for the exhibition. There will also be collaborative T-shirts with DIESEL available for purchase.

Statement

Silently Awakening Beings: Lee Hyunwoo, Sculpture, and Three-Dimensional Art

There is a phrase, "dream-like state." In Korean, a similar expression is "무심코 (musinko)," which implies being absorbed in something, almost unconsciously. "무심 (musin)" translates to "absent-minded" or "without thought," indicating a state where one's mind is captivated, though not necessarily focused. This state of being, where one is absorbed and immersed, appears inactive outwardly but is internally vibrant and energetic. This is the stage set for this exhibition.

The gallery will display objects awaiting transformation. These objects, known as "acardiac twins," are entities given a heart by the god of surgery. They lie still, seemingly in a state of anesthesia, with deep scars on their surface, quietly present. Although they do not wake or rise, this state can be seen as an awakening of the mind, a serious focus. This immersion, an absorbed state of being absent-minded yet focused, manifests three-dimensionally as sculpture.

How does an acardiac twin's heart become captivated? And in what sense are they three-dimensional beings? The acardiac twins, lying down with indistinct body parts, present an intriguing subject. Lee Hyunwoo, who has previously worked with bronze, shifts his focus from dominating installations and human figures to the textures of other life forms. This shift is an expression of the dream-like state as sculpture. These partial, lying forms do not stand as silhouettes but as physical presences. The concept of surgery in the exhibition goes beyond mere repair; the scars on the acardiac twins' skin signify more than just areas needing treatment.

Through his exploration of the sculpting act (carving) and the concept of three-dimensionality (standing as a body), Lee Hyunwoo highlights the transformative potential and presence of materiality. The acardiac twins lie dormant, embodying the silent creation of experiences unconsciously etched into dreams, forging new worlds. Much like Bachelard's concept of "awakening in cocoons and shells" ("The Right to Dream"), Lee Hyunwoo's works aspire to awaken within their state and setting.

Text by: Yuki Konno