Park Earl + Yang Sookhyun

ppiddulwanie@gmail.com (Park Earl)

sourflavor@gmail.com (Yang Sookhyun)http://heartpowder.com (Park Earl)

http://maumchine.net (Yang Sookhyun)

Park Earl
Media Media artist concentrating on physical computing artwork and Lecturer at Inchon Catholic University & Moonji cultural institute, Saii

2008   BFA in Digital Media Design from Hong-ik University, Korea

Group Exhibition
2011   Open Call for Da Vinci Idea 'Random Access Black Box', Seoul Art Space GEUMCHEON,

         Seoul, Korea

2010   Open Call for Da Vinci Idea ‘The Return of Techné’, Seoul Art Space GEUMCHEON,

         Seoul, Korea
         Hello World Saii Media art lab Showcase vol.1, moonji cultural institute, Saii, Seoul
2007   Visual media electrical imagination, IDAS, Seoul

Award2011   Open Call for Da Vinci Idea, Seoul Art Space GEUMCHEON, Seoul, Korea
2010   Open Call for Da Vinci Idea, Seoul Art Space GEUMCHEON, Seoul, Korea
         3 Layer LED façade display design, Shinsegae Main Department Strore
2009   interactive programming for dance performance <J-th time>, Arko Art Theater & Korea

         National University of Arts
2007   a runner-up (an outstanding work) in the competition for Seoul City Gallery Project,

         Seoul Design Foundation

Residency 
2011   Seoul Art Space GEUMCHEON 2nd-term residency artist, Seoul, Korea

Yang sookyun

Currently, Media artist concentrating on physical computing artwork and Lecturer at Yonsei University, Inchon Catholic University
2008   MFA in Interaction Design from Hong-ik University, Seoul
2005   BFA in Painting from Hong-ik University, Seoul

Group Exhibition2010   Open Call for Da Vinci Idea ‘The Return of Techné’, Seoul Art Space GEUMCHEON,

         Seoul, Korea
         Platoon kunsthalle 1 year anniversary showcase, Platoon Kunsthalle, Seoul,

         2010 Hello World Saii Media art lab Showcase vol.1, Saii, Seoul
2009   New media and Old media: a journey of antogonism, Young-Eun Museum, Gyeonggi

Award
2011   a grant winner of NArT in SAS, Seoul Foundation Arts and Culture
2010   Open Call for Da Vinci Idea, Seoul Art Space GEUMCHEON, Seoul
         3 Layer LED façade display design, Shinsegae Main Department Strore

Residency
2011 Seoul Art Space GEUMCHEON 2nd-term residency artist, Seoul, Korea

Frog xylophone, Interactive media device, 20x20cm, 2010

Frog Xylophone : Amusement of Technical Imagination

Park Nam-hui

(Adjunct Professor of NID Graduate School of Seoul National University of

Science and  Technology)

To a person, hands are body organs that act as a medium in implementing thought and action. The capability of this organ is endless as it implements not only action, but also changes imaginative form into a dynamis (real form). The art work Frog Xylophone by media artists Yang Sookyun and Park Earl is also within the axis of the dynamis. Simply put, this work is a portable electronic instrument that automatically plays the clear sound of a xylophone when the fingers are moved. This sometimes becomes an instrument for performances because it is easily playable by anyone, mobile, and integrated with the movement of the body. This work with a compact finish in the shape of frog’s feet and 10 different notes for each of the fingers

consists of a switch connecting mechanism and self-charging system. This artwork got its motif from the sound of the pipe that Wangnuni played in the cartoon film <Frog Wangnuni>. This idea from Yang Sookyun who had a great interest in the extended capabilities of the hand itself was materialized from co-programming with Park Earl and completed over a period of 3 months.

In particular, Frog Xylophone is a good example of media art providing popular and common amusement. This is possible because the art work is completed through the interaction of the audience, and the properties of the medium are being easily implemented through media. I believe the easy to approach aspect of the media for the implementation of the senses and thoughts was well displayed, rather than the habitual routine of the media art which can inadvertently become a media for the sake of media. Surely, Frog Xylophone can be said to be

displaying the active role in media art from the new generation of artists as it enabled easier communication with the public through sensuous amusement and mechanism, not media art that is difficult and complicated.

Clearly, the fundamental attitude of these artists is very different than the technical implementation or the incorporative direction and engineer’s attitude of the early media artists. Yang Sookyun started from paintings and moved on to physical and specific objects, where Park Earl has moved from programming design to physical interaction. Although they have different methods and sensibilities, they are common in the aspect of both being devoted to the process of physical mechanism and actual implementation through electronic media. In this sense, it is possible to infer that they are stepping closer to the actual implementation of technical imagination, and not leaning towards worship and domination of technology like some other existing media artists.

The specific examples of such art can be Merry-Go-Sound(2009) where music is created when a person sits in the chair and rocks side to side, and Spinning Light (2010) where light and wind spins around. Park Earl is currently preparing Mr. Kongdak where the beating sound of the heart will be played, following the media work that started from Massmedia (2007), Timespace (2007) where time stratum was materialized, and folding performance in 2009 with the algorithm of time and space. ‘Mr. Kongdak’ is a friendly robot that transmits collected sounds of people’s heartbeats, and it is to be made as a part of people’s daily lives. Like this, Yang Sookyun and Park Earl are media artists co-existing more comfortably with the media as they materialize the daily imaginations.