Gana Art presents a solo exhibition by Ji Yongho, who has been actively working both in Korea and internationally with sculptures made from tires. Under the theme of “Mutant,” Ji Yongho has created various hybrid creatures—half-human, half-animal—such as sharks, lions, buffalo, and gorillas using discarded tires. In this exhibition, unlike the ‘Mutant’ series which employed artificial materials in figurative forms, the artist presents a new body of work titled ‘Origin,’ featuring abstract forms based on natural materials.

In the ‘Origin’ series, the artist seeks to assign meaning to the work itself through pure forms of his own creation, without any connection to pre-existing shapes. Shells, positioned in contrast to the discarded tires he has worked with until now, embody opposing qualities such as artificial versus natural, flexible versus rigid, and monochrome versus vivid coloration. Building upon the themes and formal approaches of his previous works, the artist continues to develop his practice in new directions.
 
Ji Yongho now takes on a new challenge, approaching his work from a different perspective and thematic framework distinct from his earlier tire sculptures. The inherent values of art—truth, goodness, and beauty (眞, 善, 美)—remain unchanged across time, and Ji Yongho believes that artists bear the responsibility to enrich and diversify this aesthetic order through their work. His artistic philosophy and practice are expected to further expand the scope of contemporary Korean art.

References

• 《지용호 (Ji Yongho)》