The two-dimensional appearance of Korean artist Yi Hwan-Kwon's figurative sculptures, which are now on show at Edwin's gallery, can be unnerving.

The sculptures appear flattened and stripped of "flesh", yet their facial expressions are realistic. Moreover, although the shapes are flattened and elongated, they look surprisingly intimate and personal.

The works in this exhibition recall the work of Giovanni Alberto Giacometti, who also played with form and the relativity of space.

But Yi's sculptures represent life and the living spirit, unlike Giacometti's emaciated figures, which have often been equated with the mood of post-World War II Europe.

Yi draws inspiration from daily life: waiting at the bus stop, watching TV, working at a desk. His figures are flattened from the side, which makes for the elongation, or from above, which reverses the impact.

Playing with space, shape, volume and perspective, the artist evokes the illusionary while presenting the reality. It is as if Yi, who was born in Seoul, wants to reveal modern urban life in Korea, where things may not be as wonderful as they may seem.

This becomes particularly evident in his installation, We Are in the Same Place, But..., in which two figures face one another, like a couple talking. The figures' limbs are outstretched like long shadows cast by the sun, implying it's all an illusion.

To make his sculptures, Yi takes hundreds of pictures. Through digital manipulation, he distorts or compresses the images, before making molds to recreate the shapes in fiberglass. He then colors the works with "pulverized acrylic" mixed with turpentine.

Yi was born in 1974 in Seoul. His works have been auctioned in Christie's, and just recently in Larasati Singapore's Spring Auction 2008.

The exhibition at Edwin's Gallery, Jakarta, is Yi's third solo exhibition. The works here are not for sale as they belong to Edwin Raharjo's private collection, which will grace Edwin's Museum when it opens in 2009.

Yi Hwan-Kwon

Solo exhibition of sculptures

Edwin's gallery, May 10-22

Jl. Kemang Raya No. 21, Kemang,

Phone: (021) 7194721

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