Through his extremely distorted representations of the human body, socially conscious artist and Seoul native Choi Xooang is attempting to draw attention to social immobility and more specifically, human rights abuses in Korea.
His painted polymer clay figures are nothing short of nightmarish yet they are remarkable. The sculpting of distorted concrete bodies is most certainly an usual art form; however, the social message that lies beneath these scupltures is powerful and undeniable.
According to Ki Hye-kyung, the Curator of National Museum of Contemporary Art in Korea, "A message he wants to convey through the exhibition is that our current condition is not caused merely by external elements." Choi’s concern with society’s pathological state and the way we silence ourselves and accept when others silence us is represented through the facelessness as well as desperate emotion conveyed by the body positions of the sculptures.
Choi Xooang and his faceless sculptures, although shocking and frightening, convey a strong anti-apathetic message and encourage people to not take freedom of expression for granted.
What's Driving This Trend
- Distorted Figurative Art
- The trend of creating distorted or abnormal figures in art is becoming more prevalent as artists use it as a means of social commentary and drawing attention to important issues.
- Socially-conscious Art
- There is a growing trend in the art world of artists addressing social issues through their artwork, using their platform to raise awareness and encourage change.
- Powerful Non-verbal Messages
- Artists are exploring new ways of conveying powerful social messages through their artwork without using spoken or written language, relying on the visual impact of their work to communicate their intended purpose and impact audiences.
Who This Affects Most
- Fine Art
- There is an opportunity for disruptive innovation within the fine art industry by exploring new and unconventional forms of expression that push the boundaries of traditional styles and challenge audiences.
- Social Justice Advocacy
- The use of art as a means of advocacy is on the rise, presenting an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the social justice space by incorporating non-traditional forms of communication to raise awareness for important issues.
- Virtual Exhibitions
- As the shift towards virtual experiences continues, there is an opportunity for disruptive innovation within the art exhibition industry by creating immersive and interactive virtual experiences that engage a global audience and provide a platform for socially conscious artwork.
