Recently, 4me4you had the pleasure of visiting PONTONE Gallery, where we had the opportunity to experience the captivating work of Korean sculptor Hwang Seontae in his latest exhibition, titled Sanctuary (PT1).
This detailed process of backlighting creates the illusion of pictorial space, where the stark contrast between the monochromatic interior and the coloured exterior further accentuates the tension between stability and change.
Yet, an intriguing ambiguity pervades these scenes. The conspicuous absence of human presence raises the question: Where is everybody? Is this a quiet moment in a utopian dream, or is it a desolate snapshot of a post-apocalyptic world? The stillness suggests a waiting, a moment suspended in time, inviting the viewer to consider what might have occurred—or what is yet to unfold.
Seontae’s compositions act as a kind of silent threshold, a pause that invites interpretation. Depending on one’s perspective, these works could evoke a sense of sanctuary and safety, or they may suggest a more ominous narrative—an eerie limbo where humanity is in flux or even absent. Nevertheless, the overall tone of the works, bathed in the warm glow of nurturing light, suggests optimism and a hopeful anticipation of human return and activity.
In Sanctuary (PT1), Hwang Seontae offers us a reflective meditation on the spaces we inhabit, both physically and emotionally. His sculptures pulse with the potential for rebirth, where the promise of light and order holds the possibility of renewal and human connection.
“SANCTURY (PT1)”.
