Heeseung Nam
[Seoul, South Korea]
Art Yourself Atelier is thrilled to present 『Ta-Da! Surprise~*:-O We Are All In The Same Place』, a captivating online solo exhibition showcasing the conceptually innovative explorations of Heeseung Nam, an artist from Seoul with a profound insight into New Realism within the realm of conceptual art. With a narrative that has been gracefully unfolding since 2014, Heeseung Nam invites us into a reflective journey between the virtual and tangible realms, offering a serene yet evocative critique of modern societal interfaces. This exhibition is a testament to her continued engagement with the intricate dance between the online and offline worlds, presented through a unique medium reminiscent of 2-dimensional comic strips. We warmly invite you to delve into this thoughtful narrative and experience the melding of the virtual with the real in a way that fosters a sense of shared human experience.
Artist's Biography
Heeseung Nam aims for her work to offer a platform for profound contemplation on New Realism within the realm of conceptual art. The journey, initiated in 2014, stemmed from her fascination with the intricate interplay between the virtual (online) and tangible (offline) worlds. More specifically, she is intrigued by how these two realms coexist in modern society, dancing on the line between connection and disjunction. Her narrative is woven around this concept.
She has employed panels reminiscent of 2-dimensional comic strips as the primary medium to convey her ideas. Within these panels, she has segmented boundaries, pouring her efforts into exploring the hypothesis that the distinct gap between these segments might represent a 'neutral space'—one that straddles both virtual and actual realities.
She posits that modern individuals harbor a deep-seated desire for escape—from the myriad stresses they face, from the mental and physical burdens they bear. This sentiment, she believes, lurks within them, directionless and unanchored.
While the real world is a complex web of multi-layered, multi-meaning, and ambiguous elements, virtual reality presents itself as straightforward and distinct. It's as though it's composed of countless fragmented stories from reality that, in the end, merge and homogenize. Consequently, she has come to believe that the virtual realm serves as a sanctuary for modern individuals. It acts as a direct conduit, allowing them to alleviate their anxieties and momentarily escape the pressing consciousness of their current lives.
As she delves into the quest for a neutral zone—a space where the virtual melds with the real, where refuge from reality intertwines with its essence, and where the contrasting perspectives of contemporary individuals are woven together—she continually confronts a personal query. She sees herself not just as the artist but also as the subject, anchored by identity.
One observation stands out: Within this neutral territory, an ever-growing portion of her life cedes ground to the online domain. We are unmistakably in an age where our self-perception is in constant flux.
About the Solo Exhibition
-- Where does the path of the virtual world, depicted within the confines of today's
structured social media frameworks, lead us? It's forging a novel mode of
communication, one never seen in traditional media.
While this might seem like a query, the underlying intention is to label these virtual corridors.
Here, fragmented narratives from individual lives are showcased in real-time. These stories,
transmitted through devices like smartphones using platforms such as social networking
services (SNS), aim for specific recognition.
Our life always has stories to tell. In a broad sense, I want that we all have something in
common to Our lives are brimming with stories. In a more encompassing sense, I wish to
highlight our shared human experiences, fostering a sense of empathy and understanding.
Moreover, I hope that this sense of shared narrative can, even if just a little, empower someone
to rise above their unwarranted feelings of isolation.
Her Solo Exhibition
2022 · Seoul, South Korea
When drinking tea, just drink tea. OUDO
2022 · Seoul, South Korea
A difficult road can be crossed by a bridge, Oh! Jaemi-dong
2021 · Seoul, South Korea
Sometimes the means are the results. Gallery Dool
2019 · Seoul, South Korea
Thinking of the monotonous and boring early morning., GallerySPACED9
2014 · Seoul, South Korea
"DRAMATIC" This is real stories to some extent. Gallery dos
2013 · Seoul, South Korea
"DRAMATIC" It's only just begun. BMM Boutique Monaco Art Museum
2010 · Seoul, South Korea
"CONTEMPORARY BAND" Gallery Artga
Her Group Exhibition
2022 · Busan, South Korea
Spatial Propagation Residency Results Report Exhibition, 523 Kunstdog
2022 · Busan, South Korea
Residency Project, F1963 Seokcheon Hall
2022 · Seoul, South Korea
Accumulating Snow, A faint night Gallery Dool
2021 · New York Seoul, USA
Online Exhibition People Places Things, Project Gallery V
2018 · Seoul, South Korea
Insadong Young Artists Group Exhibition "New Thinking, New Art 2018", Lee Seoul Gallery
2018 · Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
PROJECT ZEBRA ART FAIR, Alternative Space (Snow)
2014 · Gwangju, South Korea
Six Faces of Desire, Space K
2013 · Seoul, South Korea
The 3rd Seoul Digital University Art Award, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts (B1)
2012 · Seoul, South Korea
Asia Student Young Artist Art Festival (ASYAAF) Culture Station Seoul 284
2011 · Daegu, South Korea
Yokais of the East [→] Arrow Battle Daegu MBC Gallery M
2010 · Seoul, South Korea
Korea Selected Artist Exhibition, Seoul Museum of Art, Gyeongbokgung
2009 · Beijing, China
The Fifth Cultural & Arts Festival of Songzhuang China
2009 · Gwangju, South Korea
Art Space MITE Selected Young Artist Contest, Art Space MITE
2008 · Seoul, South Korea
Myth in Us, Total Museum of Art
2008 · Seoul, South Korea
Seogyeongsipsip 2008, The Battle of Taste, Gallery Sangsangmadang
Her Study Experience
2011 · Seoul, Korea
Master of Arts in Art & Design, Sungshin Women's University Graduate School
2007 · Seoul, Korea
Bachelor of Arts in Oriental Painting, Sungshin Women's University
Her Awards
3rd Place, GAMMA Young Artist Competition, 2020
Winner, 40th Korean Contemporary Print Competition, 2020
3rd Seoul Digital University Art Award, 2013
Her Creative Residency Experience
2022 · Busan, Korea
Soft Focus Space Breeding Residency
2017 · New York, USA
School of Visual Art (SVA) Residency