Seoul: Artist Yang Jung-uk has been named the winner of the Korea Artist Prize 2024 by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), the museum announced Thursday. Through his kinetic sculptures crafted from wood, motors, lamps, and threads, Yang creates movements that offer a unique perspective on life.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the MMCA awarded Yang the prize in recognition of the visual artistry of his work and his novel approach to interpreting technology through a humanistic lens. The museum emphasized the expansive potential of his art, which resonates with people through ordinary experiences rather than grand discourses. Yang's works subtly remind viewers of art's role in comforting people.
Since October, Yang's works have been on display at the MMCA, alongside those of three other finalists, in an exhibition that runs until March 23. Among the featured pieces is "Someone I Know, in His Garden I've Never Seen," inspired by the gardens lovingly tended by Yang's wife and father. This sculpture reflects on their daily labor and the deep personal significance it holds, infusing them with meanings beyond their original functions.
The MMCA has co-sponsored the annual prize with the SBS Culture Foundation since 2012 to recognize outstanding artists with keen insight into society and art. Each finalist is awarded 50 million won (US$34,400) to support their artwork, with the final winner receiving an additional 10 million won.