Han Chul Shin

Shin Han-chul's works are all about spheres, lots and lots of them. The sculptor continues to explore his favorite geometrical figure in diverse configurations and shapes. An average-sized work weighs around 14 kilograms (31 pounds), but the spheres, crafted in stainless steel and hollow on the inside, are supported delicately on a thin pole.

While the sphere clusters coated in blue musters thoughts of grapes and the reddish balls sparkle like Christmas ornaments, it's not hard to associate Shin's pale gray and dark red foamy creations to something a little more ominous. But these spheres are far from malicious. In fact, the artist intended to symbolize the different communities within Korean society through the spheres in hopes that they would overcome their differences and harmonize.

“Spheres are organisms that contain both yin and yang. It's a perfect shape that doesn't have a top or bottom, nor left or right, You have to respect the other groups within society to earn respect for yourself. There are both larger and smaller spheres in my works, but they are in harmony. We need to be generous and understand each other to reach that kind of harmony in real life. I usually refer to my spheres as 'dream clusters,' in the hope of signaling something optimistic."

Born in Yesan, Chungnam and graduated from the Department of Sculpture and the Graduate School of Fine Arts, Seoul National University. He opened 10 solo exhibitions (Gallery Hyundai, Kumho Museum of Art, etc.). The War Memorial of Korea, the Korean War Symbolic Sculpture Project (2003). Works at Seoul Museum of Art, Gyeonggi Museum of Art, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, Art Bank, Jeil Pharm, Adelscoat cc, Seongnam Sujin Park, Incheon Grand Park Sculpture Park, and Asan Hospital.