Chaekgado
- constructing and de-constructing perspectives.
Of time and space, presence and absence, memory and identity - an exhibition at Prism by Lim Soosik.
Lim Soo Sik's photographic series constitutes a contemporary version of Chaekgado, which translates in English as bookshelf or bookcase, a genre of still-life painting dating to the Joseon period that was prevalent from the 18 th to the 20 th century in Korea. In his take on Chaekgado, Lim Soosik's begins by photographically documenting various bookcases located at different people’s homes. Even though most of the bookcases look similar to one another, each collection of books vary greatly, depending on the owner’s profession and taste. Alongside the books, the bookcases are adorned with stationery and decorative objects, according to the specific taste of the owner. This results in every bookcase conveying a unique story, while at the same time contributing fascinating visual elements to the project as a whole.
Lim Soosik's Chaekgado project is characterized by the deconstruction and construction of perspective. He photographs the bookcases in several parts and from different points of view. The fragmented images are then printed on Korean traditional paper, Hanji, which the artist assembles by hand-stitching with needles. Through this process of photo-collage the completed artwork not only obtains a particular visual distortion but also turns into a unique piece that a normal reproductive photographic work cannot attain. Just as a bookcase that is being filled, book by book over a long period of time, Lim Soosik's work is assembled piece by piece, carrying a unique value, in terms of time, space, presence and absence, memory and identity.
VIRTUAL EXHIBITION
About the exhibition
Chaekgado or chaekgeori refers to still-life paintings, mainly books and other related objects such as decorative bibelot, antiques, stationery and flowers. This type of paintings were populary produced in the late Joseon period. Written records note that this form of painting was produced, chiefly under the patronage of King Jeongjo (1776-1800), by court painters. Chaekgado, which was mostly images of a study in King Jeongjo's time, later came to be accentuated with antiques and sumptuous ceramic vases.
With real rather than imagined objects depicted, Chaekgado has evoked great curiosity among researchers, scholars and painters, providing an invaluable window to the social norms of the Joseon period in Korean history.
Lim Soosik's photographic series constitutes a contemporary version of Chaekgado. His Chaekgado project is characterized by the deconstruction and construction of perspective. He photographs the bookcases in several parts and from different points of view. The fragmented images are then printed on Korean traditional paper, Hanji, which the artist assembles by hand-stitching with needles. Through this process of photo-collage the completed artwork not only obtains a particular visual distortion but also turns into a unique piece that a normal reproductive photographic work cannot attain. Just as a bookcase is filled, book by book over a long period of time, Lim Soosik's work is assembled piece by piece, carrying a unique value, in terms of time, space, presence and absence, memory and identity.
Biography
Graduated from Chung-Ang University (BFA / MFA)
Solo Exhibitions
2020
Document-Higasikawa Chosun Middle School, Gallery Jinsun, Seoul, Korea
2018
Babe, Seohakdong Sajinkwan, Jeonju, Korea
2017
Chaekgado, The Museum of Photography, Seoul, Korea
LIM SOOSIK’S PHOTOGRAPHY, Gallery 30, Seoul, Korea
Landscape of Desire, Gallery Meme, Seoul, Korea
2016
The resonance of tradition – Chaekgado, Suwon Art Center, Suwon, Korea
2014
Chaekgado, Galería PazYcomedias, Valencia, Spain
Chaekgado, Seoul Metropolitan Library, Seoul, Korea
Chaekgado, Gallery Jinsun, Seoul, Korea
2013
Chaekgado, Gallery D, Hongcheon, Korea
Chaekgado, Galería Saro León, Spain
Image+X=? (X=Book), Boroomsan Museum, Gimpo, Korea
Sèmiotique du dèsir, Space CAN Beijing, China
2010
Chaekgado, Gallery Jinsun , Seoul, Korea
The Library of Babel – All and Nothing, Bukchon Art Museum, Seoul, Korea
2009
Room.K, SONO FACTORY, Seoul, Korea
2008
Chaekgado, Gallery On, Seoul, Korea
2007
Essay, Art Space Geonhi , Seoul, Korea
Group Exhibitions
2020
Yeosu International Art Festival - Say The Unsaybles, Yeosu EXPO D Hall, Yeosu, Korea
2019
Brisas de Corea, Galería Saro León, Spain
Hanji Translated, presented by InKo Centre, India at the Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre, Chennai, India
Sense of the time, Jungnang Art Center, Seoul
The Memory of Space, Kimchungup Architecture Museum, Anyang, Korea
2018
Between Books and Landscape, Cheongju Museum of Art, Cheongju, Korea
Magpies and Tigers, GS Caltex YEULMARU, Yeosu, Korea
Chaekgado, Gunpo Culture Foundation Book Villege, Gunpo, Korea
PHOTO BUSAN 2018, Space Soojung, Busan, Korea
2017
Deoksugung Outdoor Project : Light.Sound.Landscape, Deoksugung, Seoul, Korea
1024 project, Jeongeup Museum of Art, Jeongeup, Korea
2016
Map of Daily Life, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts Gallery, Tianjin, China
Brisas de Corea, Galería Saro León, Grand Canaria, Spain
2015
The Beauty of Korea Culture and Minhwa, Aram Art Museum, Goyang, Korea
To meet in one’s mind, Osan Museum of Art, Osan, Korea
Beyond landscape, Space ArtN, Shanghai, China
GAZE:A Contemplative Mind, Gallery HUUE, Singapore
Today’s Menu, Space Can, Seoul, Korea
China Lishui Photography Festival, Lishui Art Museum, Lishui, China
2014
Pouso inesperado no novo Mundo, Galería Nuvem, Brazil
Intertext, Space22, Seoul, Korea
Hwaseong, Report of Today, Dongtan Art Space, Hwaseong
2013
Digital Weaving, KIPS Gallery Seoul photography , Korea
Story, Rina Gallery, Korea
Kyeun in-kyung + Lim soo-sik, S+ gallery Busan, Korea
2012
Book of Artist, Gwangjoo Sinsegae Gallery, Korea
Daegu Photo Biennale, Daegu, Korea
Young Power, Art1 Gallery, Korea
Master’s dream and passion, Sejong Center, Korea
Fastbreak, Gallery Emil, Tampere, Finland
From Hangang To Chaopraya, The National Gallery, Thailand
Books and Life, PYO Gallery South, Korea
Chaekgeori Screen Paintings, Gyeonggi Provincial Museum, Korea
Ceci n'est pas un livre, Space K, Seoul, Korea
2011
U.K.I.E:VER, AM Gallery, Brighton, UK
Fiction & nonfiction, Interalia, Korea
Sublimation, Space CAN, Korea
Bridge, Bom Gallery, Korea
Artists & Books, E-LAND Space, Korea
The Brave, Soul Art Space, Korea
New Chaekgado, Yesong Art Museum, Korea
Decameron, Space CAN Beijing, Beijing, China
project-P, The National Assembly Building, Korea
Flux, Gallery LUX, Korea
2010
Convergence: Korean Prints Now, Williams Tower Gallery, Houston, USA
2010 Bookart Korea-Japan, Gallery Jinsun, Korea / Kunst-bau, Japan
Take a rest, Gallery Art Hill, Korea
Newly reorganized tradition in BANCHADO, Bukchon Art Museum, Korea
Spring, 靜, 爭, Sunny Gallery, Korea
Life is Life, Namsong Art Museum, Korea
Book to Book, Gallery Pakyoung, Korea
2009
Newly reorganized tradition in scholar's utensils painting, Bukchon Art Museum, Korea
Sibibi, Art Space Geonhi, Korea
2008
Photo independence, Higashikawa, Japan
2007
Gift, Gallery On, Korea
2005
Pop up image, Heyri Art Villege, Korea
2003
For, Chung-Ang Univ. Gallery, Korea
Publishing
Documentary-Higashiosaka Chosun Junior College 291books, 2021 / ISBN 979-11-966032-8-1
Chaekgado, Camomile Books, 2016 / ISBN 9788998204389
Chaekgado, The Museum of Photography, Seoul, 2017 / ISBN 9788993748703
Awards
2014 1st Soolim Photo & Culture awards
Collection
National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, Gyeonggido, Korea
The Museum of Photography, Seoul, Korea.
Bukchon Museum, Seoul, Korea
E-Land Art Foundation, Seoul, Korea
Idiya Collection, Seoul, Korea
Paradise City Collection, Inchon, Korea