Catalogue Into the Labyrinth

Jisan Ahn’s paintings and collages, often in black and white, are inspired by concern about authoritarian violence. Ahn focuses on the perpetrators of violence and the place that victims have in society. Notions of sin and punishment play a major role in his work, as does the influence of the daily abundance of images: a person is sometimes literally buried under a mountain of photos, rendering them no longer visible.

Ahn aims to offer a contemporary vision on political stories, exploitation, oppression and the abuse of power. He takes his inspiration from the situation in his homeland, Korea. The division of the country was a traumatic collective experience. In addition, the artist gives us a look at a more personal, individual human struggle. There is often a sleeping (dead?) person present.