re. James Dean Collage

Born is Pennsylvania, USA, 1980. lives and works in South of Korea. More works & information on the website I have been casting doubt on the simple things in our lives that we usually take for granted without serious criticism. For instances, we frequently encounter the noble and unique images which are made up of common material. Over the years, I have been attempted to re-create some famous subjects, such as masterpieces of art in a series of parody and well-known persons in a series of people, by using commercial stickers. In my works I wish people not only cast doubt on what we take for granted, but also are able to look the things in different ways. We live in a society in which we form a complex relationship among other people under a sort of social norm and role. In this process the society usually requires endless expectations and value. In this environment I cast doubts on or ask questions on the invisible social norm and standards. What I realize is that pre-existing traditional material is not suitable to express my idea and thought. While looking for a good stuff for my work, I found commercial stickers are everywhere and are often treated as garbages due to over-production. Subsequently I picked up the stickers as a primary material for my works. If you look at my works at a distance, they just look like the original images of masterpieces or well-known persons. But if you come closer to the works, you will simply find a collection of numerous stickers (or objects). The main theme of my works is to draw one’s attention to the identity and value of simple things around us and further to re-consider about what we take for granted.