South Korea, b. 1986

Byun Sanghwan is an artist who observes and deals with various objects. Like a skilled martial artist, Byun navigates through urban landscapes smoothly, and at the same time, he becomes an anthropologist when observing and studying the bizarre light of some precious phenomena that are found in densely packed cityscapes. These cityscapes are disassembled into tiny units to be reborn through poetic metaphors, paradoxes, and humor, resulting in artistic creations. Everyday subjects, appearing in unfamiliar forms, beckon for a fresh perspective on urban life, while traces of physical endeavors inscribed in artworks evoke both the weariness and vitality of life. The exploration of conditions that delineate various forms of art is also evident in his work. This includes the weight, volume, and space in sculpture, the surface, canvas and paint in painting, the process and multiplicity of images in printmaking, and the neutrality of objects. Moreover, the theme of time and body which permeates all forms of art. The questions at the boundaries manifest in his creations.