Hong Seon Jang

Posted on January 16, 2012 - by Kate

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I’m horizontal on my couch this afternoon after a morning adventure to the new CrossFit location here in Boston – wow, what a killer workout. Since I’m largely immobilized and it’s a semi-holiday here for MLK Day, I’ve been perusing the internet and came upon Hong Seon Jang.

As the lover of unique uses of materials I was really into Hong’s work – the above piece is called Zip City and is made of zip ties of all things. It’s helpful for him to have included the person in the photo for scale. I particularly like how it moves from the walls to the floor and varies in density of line – I imagine it looks very different from another angle.

About his work he says it “consists of installations often made out of found objects and common products. In giving these everyday materials new meanings and aesthetic possibilities, I strive to actively practice the concepts of the Eastern philosophies of the circulatory life system and the continuous flow of connections.” The above, “fungus” are made of cut and glued magazine papers – they almost look like tongues to me.

Hong is originally from South Korea and then got his MFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Based on all of his activity, I think he’s still living and working in the US but I’m not fully clear. This piece is called, Parasites, which I can see ad understand – it looks like something taking over one’s veins. It’s actually made of matchsticks, glue and fishing line of all things.

I’ve looked at artists who use tape as a medium before from Tara Donovan to Mitra Fabian and others – this 2D work to create a 3D environment is really lovely – I think it’s because it’s been adhered to a black wall that sets it apart.