Metal is a familiar material to us. It is used in countless ways, enabling us to live more convenient lives. But precisely because metal is so familiar, its role becomes rigidly fixed in our consciousness. We associate metal with the things we need to live—cars, airplanes, and so on. In these contexts, we expect to find metal. But metal without practical utility feels unfamiliar. Through this exhibition, Gallery Mark aims to present metal in an unfamiliar light. By placing metal within the space of a gallery—a setting not typically associated with it—we seek to create new attributes for this material. In this unfamiliar space, metal generates its own meaning, interacts with other materials, and transforms into something new.
A variety of works come together in one space to create an exhibition that feels both awkward and harmonious. In this new arrangement of materials, objects that resemble interior furniture become part of the artwork, blending seamlessly into the whole. This harmony makes us forget that what we are looking at is metal, and we fall under the illusion that we are simply appreciating art in a museum, as we often do. In this exhibition, the metals sometimes mingle with other materials, and at other times, they stand alone, asserting their presence. The new perspective on metal presented in this gallery challenges our fixed notions of what metal can be.