Youngkil Kang

Readymade sensitivity, this is a modern sense of art risen from the 20th century. Then, what will be the aesthetic tendency that characterizes the 21st century? Just as the preceding case, the changed ‘environment’ will be the clue to answer. If so, what is the environmental change that has a profound influence on life after 21st century? Where is the place we live except time for sleeping? Yes. It is the digital media. Also, in my case, I have spent most of my life in computer-built virtual reality since the 2000s. I read e-books, search for papers and write on computer. I shoot videos for flipped learning class, and even in offline class, I learn in PowerPoint. There is nothing to really explain that I always have been connected to smartphone for 10 years. This is same for artists. They also have no choice but to work in digital environment.

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For instance, photographer Kang Young-kil, who draws attention both inside and outside of the country, firstly takes pictures. Then he transforms the image with computer Photoshop. He can freely handle various colors and strokes of brush, such as oil painting, watercolor painting, acrylic painting, pastel painting and ink0and-wash painting. This is possible because it is all rooted in digital media. His work <Us-who seek for hand> features a person staring at one hand while strapping on backpack. The background is erases just like the out-focusing photography, so the focus is naturally on person. To be specific, the background is set in the shape of a small white rectangles stood densely in different angles. In fact, person is also made up of rectangular pieces, with only different colors. It is like a three-dimensional Lego remnant.

The person in the work is a self-portrait of a modern people wandering with a backpack. The dark blue skin creates a gloomy and lonely atmosphere. It is like neon sign lighting up the city center dimly. What is he looking at while walking busily? It is difficult to say for sure due to its crummy form, but the eyes are on the hand. Maybe, he is looking at smartphone just as easily seen on the street. The title of the work says, that it is figure of ‘Us’ living the modern times. It is the one who will see his hand one day, not the smartphone. There is no idea what he did for wrong, he is the one who needs to receive hand (It reminds the man with head down, carrying backpack which was reported boisterously in the media).

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Digital is the best medium to technically maximize the artistic imagination. Even it seems that it can build artistic imagination in the reality, eventually erasing the boundary between life and art. To an extent incomparable to what readymade in the 20th century had done. However, if the whole life becomes art, the unique meaning of art (one of which is wonder and admiration of life, exclaiming ‘This is art!’) will inevitably fade. Besides, life cannot withstand dematerialization. The moment life is reverted to various digital information including genetic information, the source of meaning of Lebenswelt will be exhausted. As the movie <Matrix> shows well, isn’t the comfort life locked in virtual reality a lonely and miserable life? Like this, when life becomes impoverished, art will experience desertification eventually. Then, how will we deal with the world which is transformed to digital? The 21st century artists and aestheticians will be troubled by this problem.

No one can avoid digital in 21st century. No doubt new sensibilities, colorful aesthetics will bloom in the digital world. It remains to be seen if it is a rose or a poisonous mushroom. It is a relief that some progressive photographers like Kang Young-kil are exuding a trustworthy digital sensibility.