Hah, Gye-Hoon (Art Critic)
At the first sight Noh Jun’s work reminds us of amiable animal
characters at the theme park. The people friendly animals in bright colors in a
rather small scale give this kind of sweet impression. To the art viewers who
are seeking an alternative mode of art appreciation from the contemporary art
scene which is diffused with excess subjectivism and dramatic abstraction and
theorization, Noh’s work offers a solace. His work has a quality that
stimulates one’s imagination without exhausting one’s mind. It rather offers
peace to the mind.
Noh Jun teaches sculpture to children. There could be some correlation
between his teaching experience and his child-friendly style of art. However the
outer appearance of his art should not misguide us to think that his art is for
children, or that is Kitsch. His characters finished in urethane have a highly
reflective, almost juicy surface which reminds us of Pop Art. Clo, Flo, Sudaru, Zara, Kkamjigi, and Temmy tap into layers of meaning
through symbols and narrative in our culture. Through the soft and familiar
form that one can easily identify, the artist meditates on our existence and our
respect and love for maternity through reconsidering a narrative in art.
Noh’s characters encourage us broaden our understanding and appreciation
of art. Their presence calls for revival of literality that has disappeared in
the contemporary art. They also challenge us to reconsider the social
relationship among human beings and animals. Those characters have been formed out
of the artists’ relationship with his pets such as dogs and cats. Thus as a
matter of fact, the characters model the artist’s observation of social
behaviors or human and animals as well as his wishes and ideals.
Noh’s naïve-looking
work in reality is a product of the laborious process of searching for an idea,
sketching, and actually making, which includes casting, coloring, and repeated
delicate trimming. In his third solo exhibition at the Song-Eun Gallery, which
showed his works that won the Grand Prize at Song-Eun Art Awards in 2006, he showcased
an imaginary space with his characters. The exhibition became “the other” space
in which people could depart from their exhausting ordinary lives and find
liberation and rest.
The exhibition titled <Mother &
Son-Your Wishes> probed the relationship between existence and non-existence
and even the process of creations. The final work in the exhibition consists of
some animal characters sitting on a delicious looking cake and multiple copies
of the animals in the same space. The viewer is left to figure out whether the
space represented in the art is realistic or imagined.
Noh’ work is familiar due to its visual simplicity, a concise
message, the humble rhetoric, which are distinct characteristics of the Pop Art.
Noh’s work bears out an ordinary theme through a popular icon. Many pop artists
have constantly used celebrities or friendly pets as subject matters for their
effectiveness in getting across a message to viewer. In Noh’s case, it is
rather clever and appropriate to devise the strategy that makes it possible to
brand his work as a popular icon. One possibility is that the artist could
incorporate more provocative subjects into his art, then he will arouse art
markets and the media, and in turn will also reach the wider audience.
It is quiet surprising that Noh used to work with clay animation
for a broadcasting production company. One example of his past work, which he
directed, is a soda product advertisement televised ten years ago. Some may
still remember the snails having a conversation as they are slowly wriggling.
Noh plans to have exhibitions with his diverse characters in
various places in Korea.
So far he has photographed his characters occupying the places he was visiting
such as Tokyo
and Bally. This is his way documenting art works. Wherever he goes he hopes to
meet the local children there and make them happier through his works.
The NJ Entertainment, whose name come from his initials will make
a tour-exhibition all around the world with his characters. His exhibitions
will be held under the names such as NJ Entertainment Seoul, NJ Entertainment New York, NJ
Entertainment Paris, and etc. They will take place one at a time. The
documentation of these events will hold the memories of the whole experience
including the happy audience whom he will encounter in each place. This
exhibition marks the significant starting point for the project.