Fort Gallery presents: Hacking the Third Wave II by Sang Chul Nam

Description

Fort Gallery is bringing a high-tech exhibition to the historic Community Hall—colliding past and future in the former library space. Sang Chul Nam’s wide-ranging multimedia practice explores our multifaceted relationship with nature in an increasingly manufactured and technological age. He creates space for viewers to grapple with the many forms of change facing our climate and local ecologies. This hopeful and critical body of work was developed in response to Nam’s experience of working as an artist in Seoul. He was saturated with technology to such a degree that he felt his own “consciousness and behavioural patterns changing like a machine…trapped in patterns of ‘replication’, ‘repetition’, and ‘computation’ ”. When he relocated to Vancouver he had a contrasting experience, surrounded by abundant natural spaces. This prompted Sang Chul to explore the question: “what will the world of the future look like if our consciousness is controlled by technological properties, patterns, or behaviours and doesn’t feel the beautiful, emotional waves that come from nature? Entering the historic community hall space, viewers will encounter abstract paintings and kinetic geometric sculptures, overlaid with projected patterns and interactive lights. Multiple screens are suspended and layered throughout the space, immersing viewers in a powerful interplay of organic and artificial elements. Viewers are invited into a dual investigation of our relationship to nature and technology, as Nam illuminates both the “benefits humans derive from nature and the concerns surrounding the contradictory impacts of technological progress on the environment”. Hacking the Third Wave II runs from June 1-9 at Fort Langley Community Hall, 9167 Glover Road, Langley Twp, BC. Sang Chul Nam’s exhibition will be activated by a series of events throughout the ten-day run. All events are free and open to the public.