Bin Woo Hyuk: Spotlight Series I : Promenade

In the year when the construction of Yeontral Park (Gyeongui Line Forest Park) was completed, and the Yeonnam-dong was gaining its present reputation, an alternative art space and residency also were established at street 566-55, which Lucky Supermarket at the neighboring building now occupied then. The founder, who dedicated himself to saving lives, decided to extend his attention towards supporting and inspiring the artists’ creative instinct. In the second year of its foundation, Chapter II eventually found a new home moved from the underground space of a commercial building near Apgujeong Apartment.

While guppies froze in the winter and the oil stain on the communal basin got thicker, the queue at the next-door affordable sushi place has been longer every day, and intriguing ideas and a certain excitement led by the artists at Chapter II have grown. The resident artists, often startled by the sound of emptying coffee porter filters, have become self responsible for the security system for the entire building whenever they leave the studios. Rhythmically responding to the rattling noise of suitcases of travellers from all over the world, the siren sound over the street creates a peculiar sense of liveliness.

Bin Woo Hyuk, who permanently moved to Germany after finishing the Chapter II Residency program, presents the eight pieces of the <Sanctuary> series inspired by the experience in Berlin woods instead of articulating his longing for the time and space he spent in Seoul. Thus, this exhibition sends the wishes that his paintings could give the audience a remedy as comfortable and peaceful as the woods were to him; in this context, it is a premature Christmas card to the people who believe in the intrinsic value of art.

We wish you a Merry Christmas!
-Chapter II