〈Mask Gangneung Gwanno 03-1〉, 2002.
Archival pigment print
186.5×149 cm
Yangban Gwangdae
(Masked nobleman)
The series captures the dancers wearing masks and staring at the camera without any movement. After photographing the Bongsan mask in 1998, the artist began visiting mask dance preservation societies across the country in 2002 and took photographs of over a hundred mask dancers appearing in a total of thirteen types of mask dance. The sight of dancers wearing masks that create a mysterious atmosphere with their faces covered emphasizes the power of disguise while also creating a certain feeling of sorrow. The artist sought to find the joys and sorrows hidden in the hearts of Koreans, along with their timeless liveliness, in the dancer’s still and awkward appearances and gestures. With a strangely captivating power, this work appears even more vivid when shown on ten large temporary walls. In this exhibition, the fabric used as a background when photographing the series is also displayed. The stained and frayed fabric combines with the plaintive and regretful atmosphere of the mask that has accumulated over a long period of time to create a sense of unity.
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〈Mask Gangneung Gwanno 03-1〉, 2002.
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