Korean-born, Atlanta-based artist Jiha Moon juxtaposes Eastern and Western cultures through an exploration of imagery that ranges from historical Korean iconography to contemporary American pop culture. Within her paintings, works on paper, and sculptures, Moon combines layers of images such as dragons, birds, flowers, tigers, bananas, Indian Gods, fortune cookies, and peaches to address the idea of a global society. Moon states “I am a cartographer of cultures and an icon maker in my lucid worlds.”
Global identity is an important theme for Moon, as is popular culture, technology, racial perception, and folklore. Moon’s work is layered with wit and irony, while presenting the viewer with a serious commentary on the way Western culture labels Asian Americans. The peach, which became the focus for Moon’s exhibition, represents many different ideas throughout Asian culture. They are a sign of longevity and happiness, while simultaneously symbolizing the warmth and vitality of spring. In Asian culture, peaches are believed to repel ghosts, while they also represent Moon’s current home state of Georgia. Moon's work explores both sides of her identity forming one unique and singular voice.
Jiha Moon earned her BFA at Korea University and her MFA at Ewah Womans University, both in Seoul, Korea. After moving to the U.S., she completed two additional master’s degrees, an MA and MFA, at the University of Iowa. She has participated in artist residencies at The MacDowell Colony, the Fabric Workshop and Museum, and the Singapore Tyler Print Institute through the Asia Society. She was the recipient of The Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters & Sculptor’s grant in 2011. Moon has exhibited at museums and galleries all over the world including Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Laney Contemporary, Mindy Solomon Gallery, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, High Museum of Art, Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, and many more.
Special thanks to Jiha Moon, Laney Contemporary (Savannah, GA), and all the lenders to this exhibition. Thank you to our UAB Visual and Performing Arts members and all supporters - without you this exhibition and programming would not be possible.
Tony Marsh, Jiha Moon, Tia Pulitzer and Matt Wedel
November 20, 2020, 2pm pt / 5 pm et
Each working with clay, but varied in approach, the artists will discuss the role ceramics play in their practice and the necessity to work within this medium as part of their artistic output -- from Tony Marsh's elemental use of glazing and forms, Jiha Moon's contemporary take on traditional vessels, Matt Wedel's larger-than-life constructions, and the elegant realism of works by Tia Pulitzer. Following the conversation, the artists will be available to answer questions during a live Q&A.
Venice, CA -- L.A. Louver is pleased to present the group exhibition 45 at 45, which includes works by 45 artists, timed to celebrate the forty-fifth anniversary of the gallery located at 45 North Venice Boulevard in Venice, California.
As the global pandemic has required we distance from one another and engage through screens, 45 at 45 celebrates L.A. Louver’s reopening of our gallery, and physical connection expressed through the materiality of the artworks on view. The largest group exhibition in L.A. Louver’s history, over half of the participating artists are based in Los Angeles, and reflects the gallery’s founding principle: To champion L.A. artists within an international program. 45 at 45 features long- represented L.A. Louver artists such as David Hockney, Ed and Nancy Kienholz, Alison Saar; those from L.A. Louver’s Rogue Wave program of emerging L.A.-based artists: Matthew Brandt, Tia Pulitzer, Eduardo Sarabia; well-established artists for whom the gallery has high regard: Nick Cave, Tacita Dean, Elliot Hundley, Liza Lou; and rising stars: Carmen Argote, Daniel Crews-Chubb, Gabriella Sanchez.
45 at 45 draws upon many thematic strands, from the body and sensuality, to personal narrative and magical thinking, among other connections we will highlight in curated, contextual online presentations. Artists also include Sarah Awad, Rina Banerjee, Wallace Berman, Deborah Butterfield, Rebecca Campbell, Gisela Colon, Richard Deacon, Marcel Duchamp, Jimmie Durham, Kohshin Finley, Gajin Fujita, Sherin Guirguis, Frederick Hammersley, Tim Hawkinson, Ben Jackel, Leon Kossoff, Tony Marsh, Heather Gwen Martin, Jason Martin, Patrick Martinez, Dave McDermott, Michael C. McMillen, Jiha Moon, Alice Neel, Christopher Pate, Sandra Mendelsohn Rubin, Analia Saban, Sui Jianguo, Juan Uslé, Matt Wedel, Flora Yukhnovich and John Zane Zappas.
The exhibition will encompass all areas of L.A. Louver, including a newly remodeled showroom that adds additional exhibition space on the second floor of the gallery. On view for an extended period of time through early 2021, 45 at 45 will allow for a singular in-person viewing experience, ensuring our visitors can enjoy our renovated gallery in optimum safety and comfort.
L.A. Louver will host a series of virtual programs throughout the duration of 45 at 45, including exclusive artist conversations, studio visits and special online features. For more details, please visit lalouver.com/45.
October virtual events
Artist Conversation: Rina Banerjee and Alison Saar (ZOOM) / October 14, 2020, 2pm pt / 5pm et Instagram Live: Studio visit with Matthew Brandt / October 21, 2020
For media inquiries contact
Darius Sabbaghzadeh darius@hellothirdeye.com / Kyle Hinton kyle@hellothirdeye.com / Third Eye
Reception with the Artist: Friday, Nov. 13, 4 - 9 pm
Lucid Yellow New Work by Jiha Moon
Laney Contemporary is pleased to present Lucid Yellow, an exciting exhibition of paintings and ceramics by internationally-celebrated, Atlanta-based artist, Jiha Moon, whose work is now represented by the gallery. Lucid Yellow, a color name conceived by the artist, is bold, full of saturation and infused with cultural symbolism. Art historical references range from the wavy-haired blonde, Pop Art brushstrokes of Roy Lichtenstein to the golden coif of Warhol’s Marilyn to the exoticized, glowing locks of Renaissance goddesses. Colors have shifting references. Bold intensities of color, with a focus on yellow, wind and wander throughout Moon’s work. Yellow is at once the punk, rainbow hair dye of a teenager and also the historically-loaded notion of racial stereotyping within the U.S. of Asian identity. Her work embraces the idea that identity can be mutable at times like hair color; one is not necessarily born with a consistent sense of identity. Her work encourages dialogue and multi-valenced meaning. Intentionally playful, it moves with ease between new and ancient, political and cultural.
Moon’s paintings shimmer with luminous, acrylic brushwork on brown, Korean Hanji paper mounted on canvas or panel. This generates associations with the patina of antique books and the cultural tradition of works on paper. The meeting point between old and new is an essential part of Moon’s practice. Her signature evil eyes, milagros, iconic emojis, and corporate logos, like the Twitter bird, intermingle within each composition.
Lucid Yellow also features an installation of Moon’s wall-mounted masks and a large selection of her ceramic sculptures, earthenware and porcelain, often incorporating found objects. Blending high and low, energetic graphics and calligraphic linework form dynamic tensions between shape and surface. The cherry-red lips of a smiling mouth, not unlike the mouth at the center of a de Kooning Woman, are prominent in the recent ceramic compositions, adding to the brilliance of her shape-shifting and mischievous variations.
Reception Details: Our reception will be held on Friday, November 13th from 4 to 9 pm. A food truck will be on-premises with plenty of room on the lawn and within the gallery to maintain social distancing. Face masks are required for entry and numbers will be closely monitored for those viewing the exhibition.
Gallery hours and contact information:
Tuesday - Friday, 11-5 pm
Saturday, 11-2 pm and by appointment
Phone: (912) 438-4442
Email: info@laneycontemporary.com
Address: 1810 Mills B. Lane Blvd, Savannah, GA 31405
Crystal Bridges begins the new decade with the opening of the Momentary, a new space for contemporary visual and performing arts, and the debut of State of the Art 2020 at both locations with free admissions. Lauren Haynes, curator of visual arts at the Momentary and curator of contemporary art at Crystal Bridges, is leading State of the Art 2020, along with Alejo Benedetti, associate curator of contemporary art, Crystal Bridges and Allison Glenn, associate curator of contemporary art, Crystal Bridges. The team visited studios across the country, resulting in the selection of a diverse group of 61 artists, from varied backgrounds and at different points in their careers.
