▲ Series of Vulnerable Arrangements-Seven Basel Lights ⓒ Yang Hae gue, Hamburger Kunsthalle

Yang Hae gue, the acclaimed Korean artist, is set to unveil her inaugural major museum exhibition in the UK at London’s prestigious Hayward Gallery this October. Titled “Haegue Yang: Leap Year,” the exhibition will comprehensively showcase her artistic journey from the early 2000s to the present day.

Organized into five thematic sections, the exhibition will feature three new commissions alongside some of Yang’s most celebrated series, including “Light Sculptures,” “Sonic Sculptures,” “The Intermediates,” “Dress Vehicles,” and “Mesmerizing Mesh,” as well as her iconic Venetian blind installations.

"We are thrilled to witness her first extensive survey exhibition opening at Hayward Gallery," remarked an official from Kukje Gallery, Yang’s representative, to The Korea Herald. "We are confident that 'Leap Year,' encompassing a diverse range of works from her seminal projects to the newly commissioned pieces created specifically for this exhibition, will enrich London's vibrant art and cultural landscape during Frieze." 

▲ Series of Vulnerable Arrangements-Seven Basel Lights ⓒ Yang Hae gue, Hamburger KunsthalleCurated by Hayward Gallery’s senior curator Yung Ma, alongside assistant curator Suzanna Petot and curatorial assistant Charlotte Dos Santos, the exhibition has received support from the Kukje Art and Culture Foundation. It is scheduled to run from October 9 to January 5, 2025.

Among the highlights is the newly commissioned large-scale Venetian blind installation titled “Star-Crossed Rendezvous After Yun,” featuring layered formations of Venetian blinds in various colors, designed to guide visitors through an immersive spatial experience.

The exhibition will also revisit Yang’s early project, “Sadong 30,” originally created 18 years ago as a site-specific installation in her family home near Seoul. This project significantly influenced Yang’s subsequent artistic explorations and developments.

In recent years, Yang has delved into the intersection of materiality and spirituality, particularly through her innovative use of mulberry paper. Her ongoing series of collages, “Mesmerizing Mesh,” initiated in 2021, draws inspiration from sacred and ritualistic paper objects associated with shamanism and folk traditions.

This revised article expands on the provided information, maintaining a formal tone and ensuring factual accuracy while offering a detailed exploration of Yang Hae-gue’s upcoming exhibition at Hayward Gallery.

Sayart / Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com