“THE ODD COUPLE”
JOHN HUGHES AND SEUNGHEE KANG
16th February 2007 – 21st April 2007
Gallery Yujiro
A502 Tower Point,
Tower Bridge Business Complex
Tel: 44 20 7394 8591
Fax: 44 20 7394 8610
Web: http://www.galleryyujiro.com
The dictionary definition of Odd; 1. “Unusual or unexpected; strange. 2. (Of whole numbers such as 3. and 5) having one left over as a remainder when divided by two. 3. In combination in the region of: fifty-odd years. 4. Occasional: we have the odd drink together. 5. Detached from a pair or set”
“The Odd Couple” a joint solo exhibition of John Hughes and Seunghee Kang, both are odd, not particularly singularly but collectively they are an odd couple. Hughes was born in the UK, Kang in South Korea however both live and work in London, two different origins, two different practices. Hughes creates large-scale audio installations and Kang’s meticulous Hogarthesque drawings, paintings and sculpture, yet both are similar in exploring the nature and function of narrative. They also share a strange and unusual take on everyday actions and occurrences’ transforming these observations into works saturated in dark and disturbing humour.
The exhibition is titled after, 1968 film “The Odd Couple”, staring Jack Lemmon & Walter Matthau as Felix Ungar and Oscar Maddison, is the story of two mismatched room-mates, one uptight, tidy and fastidious, the other slovenly, kooky and zany. In an interview, Lemmon described their unique relationship; “Walter is…like my brother. I don’t know what it is…. When that type of chemistry occurs – I don’t know how to explain it…. It just happens. You’re both on the same wavelength and something good comes out of it. It’s like having a third actor… There’s you, the other guy, and the two of you together as a third attraction. “
This exhibition brings together the practices of Hughes and Kang who together produce a comparable third attraction. Hughes exhibits 5 audio installations, ‘Anne’, ‘You are my Burger King’, ‘Balkan Mantras’, ‘Seek New Havens’, & ‘Who’s that geezer?’ which are a combination of monologues & conversations, and a selection of typed & hand written transcripts from ‘Seek New Havens’. Hughes’s practice is unusual, unexpected, strange and occasional, in its familiarity, where the conversations, become uncanny, and uncomfortably.
Kang’s drawings, paintings & sculptures, are deeply satirical, and darkly funny. Using drawing in a diaristic way, illustrating the Western, landscape of desire, excess, and capital. Kang depicts, narratives such as ‘Wonjogyoje’, a new term to describe the illicit relationship between an adult male and teenaged schoolgirl, where the man offers money in return for sexual gratification. Kang has found a totally different notion of ‘normal’ in London, transforming the familiar into the eccentric and surprising, the result of living as a strange in a foreign city.
Note: John Hughes was selected in 2006 New Contemporaries, and Seunghee Kang Selected in Art Futures 2007.
Events:
Gallery Yujiro will be holding a series of 5 film screenings of “The Odd Couple” in association with the current exhibition of John Hughes and Seunghee Kang’s “The Odd Couple”.
Screening Dates:
9th March, 23rd March, 30th March, 20th April & 21st April 2007, 7pm – 9pm
Includes a free drink on arrival, places are limited therefore booking is essential. Please follow the link below to book your place or contact Stephanie: 0207 394 8591.
http://www.the5thcollective.com/event/oddcouple.html
Please note: 21st April is now fully booked, private booking
Gallery Yujiro
A502 Tower Point,
Tower Bridge Business Complex
Tel: 44 20 7394 8591
Fax: 44 20 7394 8610
Web: http://www.galleryyujiro.com
Tuesday: Appointments Only
Wednesday: 10am – 6pm
Thursday: 10am – 7pm
Friday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 10am – 5pm