51.5072° N, 0.1275° W
37.5665° N, 126.9780° W
Youngsuk Oh works with objects, yet his attention consistently extends beyond the objects themselves. When we say that we own something, how far does that claim truly hold. And at what point does our belief in ownership begin to waver. Throughout his practice runs a persistent inquiry into images and language that operate prior to the material object held in one’s hand, as well as the currents of desire they set in motion.
These questions resonate with an understanding of consumer society in which objects function not merely as tools or possessions, but as part of how we relate to the world. We do not simply own things. We define ourselves through the names, atmospheres, tastes, and forms of prestige they evoke. The sentences and labels that surround an object, along with the tone of a brand and the nuance of its provenance, often summon longing before the material object itself, leading us to believe we know what we want.
At this point, objects are no longer neutral. They become vessels onto which emotions, memories, and expectations are layered.
His work does not seek to display objects as spectacle. Instead, it reveals the unstable zone where objects and attraction intersect, showing how easily this boundary can be crossed. Within these scenes, matter and perception, desire and belief remain in constant motion, exposing moments in which the certainty of ownership is both formed and unsettled. The viewer is compelled to pause and confront what they have been drawn toward, and what they have chosen to hold onto in life. In this way, the work returns questions that originate beyond the object back into the present moment of the viewer.
2024
Chemi wood
50x30x5cm
2024
Styrofoam
Variable dimensions
2024
Chemi wood
50x30x5cm