Chul Hyun Ahn Brings Light Into The World of Sculpture

Chul Hyun Ahn‘s career in art started as a graduate of Chugye University for the Arts located in Seoul. He graduated as a bachelor of fine arts, and later moved on to study his masters degree at the. Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore) 2002. This peculiar sculptor does not use the traditional stylings of classical sculptors, but rather employs a new media that takes viewers by surprise; light energy.

(Photography by Bmore Art – 2005 – Sculpture by Chul Hyun Ahn)

His first exhibition was with C. Grimaldis Gallery. It featured six of his light sculptures and was a ground breaking event in Ahn’s young life at the time. He eventually became a member of a group of light artists that included Olafur Eliasson with Leo Villareal, and Ivan Navarro. Ahn frequented the theme of infinity and zen, creating pieces that reflected on the meditation of these thoughts. People have called his pioneering works as marvels that serve as portholes into another world of chiaroscuro. He institutes the principles of illusional optics and mindplay with several of his more recent works. Ahn’s evolution in the field of light art is a proud step for the artist circles of Korea in the global eye.

What is Light Sculpture?

This new and artistic way of sculpture refers to an intermedia that pertains to either the manipulation of light to exist as a dimensional artwork, or the making of an art object that in its purpose produces a display of light. Some of the earlier Light sculptors include Dan Flavin (who used electricity as a light medium), James Turrell and the more recent Olafur Eliasson.

Eliasson created a light sculpture known as “The Weather Project” in 2003. The sculpture in itself was a room with a mirrored ceiling and a brightly lit half circle/sphere resembling the sun.

Photography and Flash Swirl Sculpture

Today, many light sculptors make use of modern day technology to aid them in producing their unique creations. A simple DSLR camera and flashlight are enough to create a popular type of freeze-frame light display captured on picture. Many serious sculptors make good use of LED or light emitting diodes as a new media. Others have moved on to an even more complex form- Lumino kinetic art, which refers to the freeplay of light in motion.

Both Light sculpture and Lumino Kinetic art have similar origins. They can trace back to the works of László Moholy-Nagy a man who was deeply inspired by constructivism and whose Light-Space Modulator was one of the very first artworks to pioneer light art. Other originators include cyber sculptor Nicolas Schöffer who used prism properties with video circuits to create original works of art, and Frank Malina who was an engineer turned artist when he created the Lumidyne system of lighting or CITE.

All in all, this novel methodology is one of the fastest growing techniques in contemporary art, largely due to the growing demand for newer technology. Despite being called timeless, artistic styles can also change with the passing of our history. As man moves into new discoveries, so does his culture and way of life.