seongmin ahn

Weaving Pain

Meditation

Meditation (detail)

Untitled 1000

Untitled 108

Untitled (detail)

Weaving Pain

Beyond – Dark, Hole 1

Beyond – Dark, Hole 3

Beyond – Dark, Hole 2

A Circle Is Not A Circle 1

Beyond – Dark, Hole 3

A Circle Is Not A Circle 4-1

A Square Is Not A Square 1

Beyond – Yin

Beyond

Room for Meditation

Beyond 2 (detail)

Beyond 2

A Circle Is Not A Circle

Faced with a reality which lies beyond opposite concepts, physicists and mystics have to adopt a special way of thinking where the mind is not fixed in the rigid framework of classical logic, but keeps moving and changing its viewpoint.

From ‘Tao of Physics’ by Fritjof Capra.

The title of artworks, ‘A Circle is Not a Circle’, is inspired by a phrase, ‘Particles Are Also Waves’ from The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra, which has introduced me to a whole different perspective seeing the world. In The Tao of Physics Fritjof Capra describes the parallels between modern physics and Eastern mysticism by pointing out its paradoxical and non-logical nature of subatomic world and Eastern philosophy. To understand the fundamental truth of being, physicists used scientific evidence, theories and formulas to explain and describe truth in searching for the smallest basic block of which all materials are made. On the other hand sages from the East used observation of reality and direct experience as a metaphor to describe truth in attaining self-realization. I was truly amazed that two parties took a different route but eventually met at the same point.

In classical physics, the smallest unit composing matter—a molecule or an atom—is a solid, indestructible and isolated unit at rest. However, modern physics discovered that an atom consists of vast regions of space in which extremely small particles are moving with high velocity and are organically interconnected by electromagnetic force. Depending on how we look at them, they appear sometimes as particles, sometimes as waves. Subatomic units of matter are very abstract entities, which should be understood as mathematical quantities of ‘probability waves’[1] <#_ftn1> rather than a particle or a wave. The phenomena observed in the subatomic world by scientists revealed its paradoxical and non-logical feature, which is beyond our direct sensory experience in a three-dimensional world. It is a whole different realm of hyperspace and metaphysics to me.

After many years of illness, I have come to view the fundamentals of life in a different way. While searching for a cure I was inspired by a Zen master in my hometown of Korea. I learned how important it is to live in the present moment. The present, in Eastern culture, is a very short moment when perpetual past and future meet. I realized that I had lingered on ‘the past’, when I was sick, and on’ the future’, when I would be sick. Through practicing meditation I was able to completely concentrate on the moment that I was breathing and to accept ‘suchness’ of the present moment. In my present, when I looked into through meditation, there’s no pain/suffering or tremendous happiness. It is empty but full of vibrating energy just like a subatomic world. True peace and liberation revealed itself in my life in such a way. It was an utterly amazing turning point in my life.

I fold mulberry papers to create geometric creases, and then spray sumi ink repeatedly to create delicate banners of shade. Then I create a site-specific installation responding directly to intersection of the walls or floor. I use the walls or the floor sometimes simultaneously to transform two-dimensional surfaces into three-dimensional space. The viewers’ relativistic location to an artwork will give them different perspectives and also will create slightly different images. From only one viewpoint, by looking at two perpendicular walls together, viewers will be able to recognize one perfect circle. The shapes used in artworks are geometric but conceptually organic, which interact with viewers’ viewpoint. Viewers become participants, not simply observers, by keeping moving and changing their perspectives.

Through my project I want to evoke a new way of looking at the space around us, by challenging our conventional uses of perspective that we’re so dependent on in manmade forms. My work is also a visual questioning of ourselves. An answer sits within each individual in different ways. Only, I hope that my work leads viewers to find their path to their true self beyond physicality.

Fritjof Capra, The Tao of Physics, p.68
At the subatomic level matter does not exist with certainty at definite places, but rather shows ‘tendencies to exist’, and atomic events do not occur with certainty at definite times and in definite ways, but rather shows ‘tendencies to occur’, In the formalism of quantum theory, these tendencies are expressed as probabilities and are associated with mathematical quantities which take the form of waves. This is why particles can be waves at the same time. They are not ‘real’ three-dimensional waves like sound or water waves. They are ‘probability waves’, abstract mathematical quantities with all the characteristic properties of waves which are related to the probabilities of finding the particles at particular points in space and at particular times.


EDUCATION
M.F.A.	Maryland Institute, College of Art, Baltimore, MD
M.F.A.	Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
B.F.A.	Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2006	*Particles Are Also Waves*, Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, Wilmington, DE
2005	*Mono.logue*, Queens College Art Center, Queens, New York
2004	*New York Report ; Seongmin Ahn, White Wall Gallery, Seoul, Korea Weaving Pain*, Kerrigan Campbell art + project, New York, NY
2003	Beyond, Project ’03, Carriage House, Islip Art Museum, Islip, NY
2001	Meditation, Gomez Gallery, Baltimore, MD
	Meditation, Fox Gallery, Baltimore, MD
1998	Floating, Gallery Boda, Seoul, Korea
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2005	*Repeating Spaces,* Art Gallery, Montclair State U niversity, Montclair, NJ *No End But Addition*, Vox Populi, Philadelphia, PA
2004	*Re.Occurrence, Taste of Art, New York, NY Scene/Unscene, 473 Broadway Gallery, New York, NY ArtLink @ Sotheby’s International Young Art, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam, Moscow No End, But Addition, Orange County Gallery, Orange County, NJ Meditation in New York, 473 Broadway Gallery, New York, NY. Abstraction Identity, Pelham Art Center, Pelham, NJ Juried show, Gallery Korea, Korean Cultural Service, Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Washington D.C. Curated by Clifford T. Chieffo In the Face of others*, NURTUREart at LMCC, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council , New York, 2003
2003	*Seasonal Litter, Broadway Gallery Annex, New York, NY No End, But Addition, Spaces Gallery, Cleveland, Ohio Flicker, Transplant Gallery, New York, NY Seongmin Ahn and Haejung Oh, Washington Arts Center, Arlington, VA Space and Surface Painting, Gallery Korea, New York. NY Panelists: Elizabeth Park, Shaping Wholeness, Elmhurst Hospital Center, organized by Asian American Arts Center, Queens, NY. Works on Paper, Annual Juried Show, Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ. Juror: Joseph Jacobs, Curator of American Art, The Newark Museum. Nurturing the New, NURTUREart, New York, NY Curators’ showcase*, in showcase of Margaret Bodell, Viewing Room, New York, NY
2002	*Contrary Equilibriums: 12th Annual Exhibition, The Asian American Arts Center, New York, NY Panelists: Mihee Ahn, Timothy Liu, Margo Machida, Tricia Paik &Lydia Yee eMotion Picture*, United Nations, New York, NY
2001	*Academy 2001, Corner Contemporary Gallery, Washington D.C. Masters Juiedy Show, Fox Gallery, Baltimore, MD eMotion Picture, San Francisco, CA, Washington, D.C., Chicago, IL x<16 x 13*, Fox Hall, Baltimore, MD
2000	*About Drawing, The Park School Gallery, Baltimore, MD Mt. Royal Show, Thesis Gallery, Baltimore, MD Mt. Royal Alumni Show, Thesis Gallery, Baltimore, MD Mt. Royal Show*, Thesis Gallery, Baltimore, MD
1998	*Mt. Royal Show*, Thesis Gallery, Baltimore, MD
1997	*Grand Art Show by Chungang Daily News, Hoam Art hall, Seoul, Korea Show of Grand Art Competition by Art World, Kyungin Gallery, Seoul, Korea Exhibition of Grand Art Competition, Munhwa Broadcast Company, Grand Art Hall, Seoul, Korea 20th Anniversary Show, Sun-Hwa Art School, Seoul, Korea M.F.A. Thesis Show, Museum of Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea Po-il Exhibition, Cultural Center of S.N.U., Seoul, Korea Exchange Show*, Seoul National University & Tokyo University, Seoul, Korea
1995	*New Form and Spirit, Do-ol Gallery, Seoul, Korea Exchange Show*, Seoul University & Tokyo University, Tokyo, Japan
AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES
2003	*Grant, Pollock-Krasner Foundation Carriage House Space Award, Islip Art Museum, Islip, NY Juror’s Award for Artistic Excellence*, Perkins Center for the Art, Moorestown, NJ, Juror: Joseph Jacobs, curator of American Art, the Newark Museum.
2002	*Artist’s Grant*, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont
1998-0I	*Scholarship*, Graduate School, Maryland Institute, College of Art, Baltimore
1997	*Selected, Grand Art Competition by Chungang Daily News, Seoul, Korea Specially Selected, Grand Art Competition by Art World Monthly Magazine, Seoul, Korea Specially Selected*, Grand Art Competition by Munhwa Broadcast Company, Seoul, Korea
PUBLIC TALK
2005	Artist Talk, Queens College Art Center, Queens New York
2003	Artist Talk, Pierro Gallery of South orange, NJ Washington Arts Center, Arlington, VA Asian American Art Center Panel Discussion, Korea Society, New York, NY
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2005	*Irene Coughlin, “Buddhist-Inspired Korean Art”, Queens World, December 12 2005, NY Jin Hye Kim*, Korea Tims, December, 2005
2004	*Lori Oritz, “Quite Space in a Busy City*”, NY ARTS magazine. “The Pelham Art Center Present Abstract Identity”, The Bronxville Bulletin, March 2004
2003	*Dan Tranberg, “Exploring the Natural World”, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio Mary Lou Cohalan*, Projects’03 (catalog), Carriage House, the Islip Art Museum, Long Island
2002	*Tricia Paik*, 12th Annual Exhibition (catalog), The Asia American Arts Center and the Korea Society
2001	*Jessica Dawson, “That’s On, and Off, the Wall”, Washington Post, August 16 Glen McNatt, “Religious Influence in Artist’s Paintings”, The Sun, August 9, Mike Giuliano, “Contemplative Paintings …at the Gomez Gallery, City Paper, Baltimore, Aug 8-15. “Korean Artist, Ahn’s Show”* The Korea Times, Washington D.C. Aug., ABC 7 News, Chicago
1998	*Intae Jang, Art World, Mar, Seoul, Korea Unmong Park, Art Education, Mar, Seoul, Korea The Korea Times, Seoul, Korea Dongah Daily News, Seoul, Korea Kookmin Ilbo*, Seoul Korea
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
	Asian American Art Center, New York, NY Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD Kangnambalgun Hospital for Eye Surgery, Seoul, Korea
RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE
1999-01	Teaching Assistant , Maryland Institute, College of Arts, Baltimore, MD
1997-98	Part Time Faculty, Daegu College of Art, Daegu, Korea
1995	Assistant Researcher, Museum of Seoul National University, Seoul, Kore

Seongmin Ahn
76 Jackson Street
Brooklyn, NY, 11211

Tel: 646-515-4201

ahnseongmin@hotmail.com