Choi Ok-yeong, an artist dedicated to fostering a symbiotic relationship between nature and art, actively contributes to the artistic landscape through solo exhibitions and participation in symposiums both at home and abroad. Additionally, he is deeply involved in projects centered around the creation of public sculptures.
Identifying himself as an environmental artist, Choi transcends the boundaries of traditional art by integrating elements of nature into his work. His groundbreaking exhibitions at the POSCO Gallery in 1997, featuring sculptures crafted from cow dung, garnered widespread acclaim within the art community. These sculptures, representing the cyclical nature of the universe, served as a testament to his philosophical outlook.
Choi's land art masterpiece, Haslla Art World, stands as an emblematic cultural and artistic enclave in Korea, revitalizing a former barren museum into a vibrant nexus of local culture and art. Seamlessly blending with the natural surroundings of Youngwol Y-Park, another of his creations, Choi's designs create captivating landscapes, juxtaposing the built environment with the raw beauty of nature. In Youngwol Y-Park, Choi's artistic ethos shines through, emphasizing renewal through the meticulous repurposing of architectural elements and furnishings. From the audacious bamboo forest crafted from crimson metal pipes to the monumental Jupiter sculpture constructed from 200 tons of stacked wood, Choi's works captivate audiences with their monumental scale, a rarity in traditional art settings.
Echoing his sentiment of wanting people to experience the energy of art, Choi's installation pieces exude a palpable vitality. Notably, the awe-inspiring Red-Pavilion that embodies the essence of Gangwon Province, densely adorned with metal pipes to depict the bamboo forests and village names, symbolizing a profound regeneration endeavor.
Furthermore, he has served as the chief planner of spatial design for Haslla Samcheok, a collaborative initiative with Samcheok City Hall, for several years, demonstrating his deep immersion in themes centered around various materials such as earth, wood, stone, as well as metals, rubber, cement, and other discarded waste materials for environmental revitalization.
For Choi, artwork embodies not the enduring presence of materiality, but rather signifies a process of transformation, regeneration, and eventual return to nature over time. Continuously pushing the boundaries of his land art, he actively engages with diverse individuals to expand his creative horizons.
Artist Choi Ok-yeong consistently pioneers new avenues in land art, not only orchestrating the earth and spaces but also deriving inspiration from nature and existing environmental concerns to create paintings and sculptures. He broadens his creative scope by incorporating sculptures crafted from recycled materials and delving into installation art.
