The (un)Necessaries series threads on themes of Consumerism as perpetuated since mid 17th century to the rampancy as presented in modern day lifestyle. Despite the evident escalation in economic growth that Consumerism has unfolded, should one take a closer look at the effect on the prosaic lifestyle of the consumers, a sense of overt preoccupation or rather, the state of being ‘consumed’ by a subconscious emphasis placed in the material acquisition of things. The angle which Sang Taek presents in his artworks is from the captured desires of a consumer, the line between the necessaries of life and desire for possession is blurred.

In the (un)Necessaries series, the artist has intentionally created surrealistic space with photography. The relationship between the outline of the clothes and the black background in each photograph translates to a painterly effect that may appear as oriental to the viewer. Through the artist’s way of approaching the concept, viewers can be attracted to the oriental beauty and gain new perspectives through the inspiration of his concept of an indispensable human desire.

About the artist:

Sang Taek Oh (b. 1970, Korea) has delivered affirmative messages in photography through his gradually progressed series of works. He studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (B.F.A) and San Francisco Art Institute in the United States (M.F.A). The works of Sang Taek Oh has been exhibited extensively in Korea and worldwide, including China, US, and Canada. He was a recipient of an artist residency at National art studio, Goyang and Seoul City Art Studio, Nanji, one of the most prestigious residency programmes in Korea. Also, he has received awards from renowned foundations and museums in Korea, such as, SEMA (Seoul Museum of Art) Awards 2010 and he has established his collections in Korea’s major museums: National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul Museum of Art and Museum of Art Seoul National University. He currently lives and working as a Professor in Seoul Art Institute, Korea.

Image: © Sang Taek Oh, TAKSU