Sungho Bae's sculptures are a fascinating exploration of the relationship between childhood, memory, and the objects we hold dear. In his exhibition, Apotropaia, Bae takes stuffed animals and found objects, once filled with emotional significance, and transforms them into something entirely new and uncanny. This is a powerful commentary on the transient nature of meaning and the ways in which we assign value to material possessions.
What makes Bae's work particularly intriguing is his method of deconstruction and reconstruction. He takes these discarded toys and, rather than simply recycling them, he breaks them down into their most basic components. He then reconfigures these parts, creating a new form that is both familiar and strange. This process is a metaphor for the way we often view and value things in our lives. Just as Bae transforms the familiar into something new, we too can find meaning in the unexpected by looking at the world through a different lens.
One of the most striking pieces in the exhibition is 'Dansu'. This sculpture is a head and neck, with taxidermy eyes and feathers standing in for hair. It is presented on a weathered game board, referencing the Korean game of Go and the tension between natural and artificial. The figure's vacant glass eyes, originally designed to replicate life in a mounted animal, add to the sense of unease and the idea that these once-cherished toys are now devoid of their former significance. This piece is a powerful commentary on the loss of innocence and the transition from childhood to adulthood.
The 'Gut' series, on the other hand, is more amorphous and abstract. These works revel in their ambiguity, inviting the viewer to interpret and engage with the piece on a personal level. The wispy hair and bits of clay embedded in the color and texture create a sense of movement and fluidity, mirroring the unpredictable nature of life and the emotions that can arise from it.
Bae's exhibition is a thought-provoking exploration of the relationship between the past and the present, and the ways in which we assign meaning to objects. It is a reminder that the value we place on things is not always permanent and that the meaning we derive from them can be reshaped and redefined. As viewers, we are invited to reflect on our own childhood possessions and the emotions they evoke, and to consider the potential for transformation and growth that lies within even the most mundane of objects.
