Pierson speaks through thrown-out letters
Jack Pierson is a versatile artist who freely explores almost all genres of art from sculpture to photography to video works.
In the U.S., he is best noted as a fashion and celebrity photographer who worked with Naomi Campbell, Snoop Dogg and Brad Pitt. He was recently in charge of the catalogue shootings for six Korean designers’ collections at “Concept Korea -- Fashion Collective 2010” which took place in New York in February.
But he is happy to expand his territories, for example, to curating. He curated a much-talked show in Paul Kasmin Gallery in New York last summer. The exhibition, “The Name of This Show Is Not: Gay Art Now,” included works mainly by artists who identify themselves as gay.
Now the U.S. artist aims to showcase another side of him in Seoul, through his first solo exhibition here titled “Jack Pierson: Night.” It displays the artist’s latest word sculpture series.
Words and phrases are spotted on every wall of Kukje Gallery. They are compositions by Pierson, who picked up letters that were thrown out from Las Vegas casinos, old movie marquees and other exhausted businesses and reassembled them.
“From 1984 to 1990 my studio in New York was on the 42nd street, which was a rundown street that represented the old New York. At that time the street was becoming renewed so a lot of letters there were being thrown out and I had access to them,” Pierson told the press on Tuesday.
He collected letters not just from the 42nd street but from all over the country driving his pick-up truck. It was like a pursuit of the faded glamour and stardom in the U.S. He went to every famous rock ‘n’ roll place, including the Flame Show Bar in Detroit, which he reminisced as his favorite place.
The letters which once represented the American dreams of fame and fortune in the form of dazzling sign boards now reflect disillusionment and the artist’s nostalgic sentiments.
“You look at them (the words and phrases) and you can understand them immediately. But within that fast read, I want you to look into the individual letters to get to know each of their story,” said Pierson.
Take “Old Hollywood Movies” for example. He collected the letters from different places, including actual movie marquees.
“When I was young, I wanted to be the person who designed movie credits. The piece is a nod to that. And also, it reflects what Americans say -- you know, people just know what it means when you say ‘It’s like old Hollywood movies,’” said Pierson.
The work “Pola Negri” is his personal favorite.
“Back when Hollywood movies were silent, Pola Negri was a big star like Elvis Presley. I like the piece because I think the shape of every letter in it perfectly matches her personality,” said Pierson.
Will he ever run out of materials?
“Oh, you should see, I have a room this big filled with letters,” Pierson said with a laugh, holding his arms out in the exhibition room.
“And now is a good time to get these things because everything is becoming digital.”
The exhibition runs through June 6 at Kukje Gallery in Sogyuk-dong, central Seoul. For more information, call (02) 735-8449 or visit www.kukjegallery.com
By Park Min-young (claire@heraldm.com)
In the U.S., he is best noted as a fashion and celebrity photographer who worked with Naomi Campbell, Snoop Dogg and Brad Pitt. He was recently in charge of the catalogue shootings for six Korean designers’ collections at “Concept Korea -- Fashion Collective 2010” which took place in New York in February.
But he is happy to expand his territories, for example, to curating. He curated a much-talked show in Paul Kasmin Gallery in New York last summer. The exhibition, “The Name of This Show Is Not: Gay Art Now,” included works mainly by artists who identify themselves as gay.
Now the U.S. artist aims to showcase another side of him in Seoul, through his first solo exhibition here titled “Jack Pierson: Night.” It displays the artist’s latest word sculpture series.
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| “Heartbreak Hotel” by Jack Pierson installed on a Kukje Gallery wall. Kukje Gallery |
“From 1984 to 1990 my studio in New York was on the 42nd street, which was a rundown street that represented the old New York. At that time the street was becoming renewed so a lot of letters there were being thrown out and I had access to them,” Pierson told the press on Tuesday.
He collected letters not just from the 42nd street but from all over the country driving his pick-up truck. It was like a pursuit of the faded glamour and stardom in the U.S. He went to every famous rock ‘n’ roll place, including the Flame Show Bar in Detroit, which he reminisced as his favorite place.
The letters which once represented the American dreams of fame and fortune in the form of dazzling sign boards now reflect disillusionment and the artist’s nostalgic sentiments.
“You look at them (the words and phrases) and you can understand them immediately. But within that fast read, I want you to look into the individual letters to get to know each of their story,” said Pierson.
Take “Old Hollywood Movies” for example. He collected the letters from different places, including actual movie marquees.
“When I was young, I wanted to be the person who designed movie credits. The piece is a nod to that. And also, it reflects what Americans say -- you know, people just know what it means when you say ‘It’s like old Hollywood movies,’” said Pierson.
The work “Pola Negri” is his personal favorite.
“Back when Hollywood movies were silent, Pola Negri was a big star like Elvis Presley. I like the piece because I think the shape of every letter in it perfectly matches her personality,” said Pierson.
Will he ever run out of materials?
“Oh, you should see, I have a room this big filled with letters,” Pierson said with a laugh, holding his arms out in the exhibition room.
“And now is a good time to get these things because everything is becoming digital.”
The exhibition runs through June 6 at Kukje Gallery in Sogyuk-dong, central Seoul. For more information, call (02) 735-8449 or visit www.kukjegallery.com
By Park Min-young (claire@heraldm.com)
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