박제성

Je Baak’s practice is his translation of Zen Buddhism in a contemporary context. Rather than using traditional oriental visual elements, he attempts to give the audience a chance to experience the moment of enlightenment that we are very familiar with. By twisting things or situations, as well as employing various methods, he guides us to see the truth behind the scene. His works are funny yet sad, familiar but uncomfortable, spectacular though empty. As a Zen practitioner himself, his process of creating art is a part of his own Zen training.

The Structure of presents a concept that there are only two artificially generated extreme emotions – FEAR and PLEASURE – which people can experience through death defying roller-coasters or so called ‘thrill rides’. By making collages of all the different types of thrill rides, Je Baak creates figures that generate extreme emotions, the emptiness within them and the endless repetition which converts thrill into pain. They seem beautiful yet scary, enjoyable but painful at the same time.