Gallery46, Whitechapel, LONDON

– Artists: Axel Void, Cosimo Sturniolo, Dongwuk Heo, Hanuk Jung, Hayoung Kim, Jihyun Yu, João Villas, Joon Choi, Koh Sang Woo, Kristina Chan, Ligyung, Mimi Joung, Sangyong Lee, Vakki, Zoë Marden

– Curated by Dr Stephanie Seungmin Kim

– Assistant curator: Yeony Do

– SUPPORTED BY LONDONNEWCASTLE & SSKETCH

#Touch46 #Touchiskai

The exhibition brings back ‘touch’ which has been tabooed and sterilised recently with the pandemic. While our touch has been scrutinised and recorded, touch-screen devices became windows for human interaction. Some people were in touch with nature, finding respite from the sudden halting of normal life, some had to suffer in the proximity of others and some were alone, devoid of touch. The exhibition began with thoughts of revitalising the joie de vivre, much needed after repeated lockdowns, but it inevitably brought the memory of our recent loss and heightened perception. The different iterations of touch are revealed through this exhibition, Touch. Audiences are open to closeness, pressure, warmth, memories and pain if they are willing, or open to be touched.

While not being naively optimistic, the exhibition encourages touches to reflect and celebrate. Some works are contemplative while being playful; the exhibition curator Stephanie Seungmin Kim wanted to work with artists she admires and who encapsulate the exhibition’s spirit. The exhibition will present celebrated work from South Korea mixing mediums and senses from artists working in the UK .