“My Age of Seven-The Secret of Christmas Tree” (2010) by Seoungwon Won (Korea, B. 1972) is edition 2 of 6, unframed dimensions 31.50 x 26.6 inches (80 x 65 cm) with sheet measurements of 39.37 x 33.46 inches (100 x 80 cm), and is unframed in excellent condition. This work is part of the artist's famed "My Age of Seven" series of surreal landscape inspired color photographs that are based on dreams from the artist's childhood.
The retelling of her dreams in these constructed narratives are greatly influenced by traditional Korean landscape painting as well as a famous Korean legends about a young girl who journeys through a fantasy-like countryside. Here a massive Christmas tree, replete with over-life size ornaments nearly disappears amongst the rest of this snowy, rural mountainside village. Won explores the theme of individual versus collective memory in these works, which are digitally manipulated pastiche style images that often incorporate hundreds of separate images into a single photograph.
Seoungwon Won was born in Geonggi-do Goyang, Korea in 1972, received her BFA in 1995 at Chungang University in Seoul and her M.F.A at Kinstakademie Dusseldorf in 2002, as well as an M.F.A at Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln in 2005. IN 2006 Won received the International Cite de Arts in Paris, the Goyang Art Studio award in Korea, and the Gana art, Atelier Jangheung Art Park in Korea. Major exhibitions include solos shows like "The Age of Seven" at Gana Contemporary, Seoul in 2010, and a show at Gana-beaubourg in Paris in 2010, with group exhibitions, including "VARIETY" at the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Korea, a'Shifting Realitiesa", Halle Zehn in Cologne, Germany and "Hello Tomorrow", CAIS Gallery, Hong Kong. Additionally, Won has been involved in a number of biennials including the Daegu Photo Biennial in 2008, International Media Art Biennial at the Seoul Museum of Modern Art in 2008, the Ulsan International Photography Festival (2009), and the International Incheon Women Artists Biennale (2009). The artist currently lives and works in Seoul, Korea.
