Hanmi Gallery is pleased to present Elephant in the Room—an exhibition of multi-sensory sculptures by the South-Korean artist Jeehee Park. Park investigated the history of specific regions, buildings and current social phenomenon. She visualised it by applying a function or by conducting basic science experiments through her sculptures. Her works are multidisciplinary, incorporating both sculpture and installation drawings. She also uses a variety of mediums from building to organic materials. Her works call for a sensorial response as they appeal not just to the eye but also to the viewer’s scent and hearing.

In this exhibition, visitors trace her thoughts about Elephant and Castle in London through her installations. The Fruit Battery installation is the result of this research. It is a visualisation of specific parts of the social system perceived by the artist through the function of primary batteries. She incorporated popular fruits among local residents of the area to create a structure that generates a minimal amount of electricity. The fruits were bought from East Street Market which is home to a high percentage of immigrants. Copper pipes with small zinc plates pierce the fruit and create impressive sculptures.

She began her research by exploring juxtaposing materials, for instance, decorative plant-pattern lace curtains in the windows of brutalist buildings in England. Park concluded that a certain sense of beauty coexists between the two mediums. The solid building and intricate lace demonstrate a combination of two different materials—concrete and cloth; beauty of minimalism and that of folksiness; the elite and the public. She digitalises the images and juxtaposes these elements to master a new structure through laser printing.

Park’s mixed media collages are made by penetrating electrolytes, such as copper sulphate and salt into paper. Copper tape and zinc plates are used to reconstruct the images of urban planning in England from the 1950s to the early 1970s. Throughout the exhibition period, they are put in a water tank and used as battery for a short time before they are hung on the wall.

Jeehee Park (b.1984, Seoul) is a visual artist. Combining basic scientific experiments and architectural structures, she aims to reveal social issues through her sculptures. Jeehee is a recipient of the Kenneth Armitage Young Sculpture Prize and has worked with Art and Business for Laird PLC commission work. Recent exhibitions include the MFA degree show at Slade School of Fine Art and the Symposium at the OXO tower.