British artist explores tension beneath stillness in paintings shaped by AI and philosophy

SEOUL — May 20, 2025 — The Still Point, a solo exhibition by British artist Von Wolfe, opened on May 14 and is currently on view at Tang Contemporary Art Seoul through June 28. Curated by Yonni Park and Jeeeun Hong, the exhibition brings together oil paintings that capture the eerie beauty of paused time and the quiet undercurrents of emotional tension.

Inspired by a line from T. S. Eliot—“the still point of the turning world”—the exhibition explores paradoxes of stillness and movement. Von Wolfe’s paintings are serene at first glance, yet beneath their poised surfaces lie unresolved psychological energy and narrative fragments waiting to unfold. Figures appear composed, yet their eyes suggest speech, while animals like dogs, cats, and birds emerge as subtle companions—silent presences that deepen the emotional resonance of each scene.

Key works include Rose and Black Wing (2025), a large-scale oil painting where the subject’s quiet poise masks a swirl of internal motion, and The Running Light (2025), which renders an atmosphere of movement held just before release. In The Drift (2025), Wolfe’s composition invites reflection on emotion suspended between time and perception.

A distinctive element of Von Wolfe’s practice is his use of artificial intelligence as a creative partner rather than a mere tool. Trained AI models generate a multitude of imagery, from which the artist selects and reinterprets compelling scenes in oil on canvas. This fusion of digital experimentation and classical technique creates a new sensory terrain—one that blurs the boundaries between memory, technology, and aesthetics.

Born in 1977 and based in London, Von Wolfe studied philosophy at the University of York. His works have been exhibited in leading museums including the Musée du quai Branly (Paris), Ateneum Art Museum (Helsinki), Nationalmuseum (Stockholm), and Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille.

The Still Point challenges viewers to reconsider what moves beneath a still image. Through his combination of philosophical reflection, painterly nuance, and algorithmic collaboration, Von Wolfe evokes a world where silence speaks volumes.

Sayart / Jason Yim yimjongho1969@gmail.com