Meeson Pae Explores the Interiors of Existence in her Art

Korean-American contemporary artist Meeson Pae is currently captivating audiences with her solo exhibition “Permeate,” on view at Anat Ebgi gallery in Los Angeles from September 21 to November 2, 2024. This groundbreaking show not only marks Pae’s first solo exhibition with the gallery but also coincides poignantly with her late brother Peter’s birthday, a profound personal connection that infuses her work with a sense of memory and reflection.

Pae’s artistic focus on the body and its interiors stems from deep personal experiences, most notably the loss of her younger brother to cancer. His struggle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma ignited a confrontation with mortality that has profoundly iNFLuenced her creative journey. “This defining moment sharpened my awareness of life’s fragile and fleeting nature,” she reflects. Art became her language, a way to express emotions that words could not capture.

Unlike most, Pae didn’t come from an artistic background and only picked up painting until her brother’s untimely passing. “I think for myself, I had to find a way to process all of the pain. At a young age, to experience that so early was also very difficult,” she reflects. “I would try to journal and write everything that I was feeling, but it almost seemed like words weren’t enough. So I went to the art store and picked up some paint and some clay and a bunch of art materials and that’s actually when I just started to make things, not really thinking through anything and not having experience with art.

“It was a very intuitive feeling. And once I started to work with my body and my hands and started to process everything that was going on internally and express them externally, it really opened up a lot of doors in my mind.”

Pae’s art is distinctive – fleshy pink and red, depicting the interiors of the body but honed in onto the microscopic level, muscular mechanisms and fluid flesh, transformed and rendered into an alternate universe. Pae always had an interest in biology and she shares that when her brother passed, the doctor had asked if they could use his body for science. “At that moment, I thought it was so hurtful,” she says. “Then in order to understand where he was coming from, I tried to research more in the sciences and the history of medicine and the discovery of the microscope. I wanted to understand the science and the systems, and it was actually fascinating to learn how scientists and artists worked together at the time before photography was invented. There was a lot of interpretation and the technology wasn’t great so they made up facts and colours and shapes. It was a curious time and I became really fascinated with natural science.”

Today, her work transcends mere representation, delving into the organic and mechanical interplay of forms. By employing biomorphic abstractions, Pae invites viewers into undefined, dream-like spaces that reflect her ongoing exploration of identity, culture, and belonging.

As a first-generation American, Pae navigates the dualities of her cultural background, feeling the tension between belonging and alienation. Her aunt had married an American military man and her whole family moved to the US. “I was born in the US but I was also raised by my grandmother so I had very traditional values,” she says. “It’s something I think about a lot because I grew up in the US but on the exterior, I still looked very different. I get asked where I’m from in the States a lot, but I also get it in Korea.”

This duality is woven into her art, where she constructs immersive environments that blend organic forms with surreal landscapes, creating spaces where identity can fluidly coexist. “My practice becomes a response to the question, ‘Where are you from?’—not through a fixed location, but through the creation of otherworldly environments,” she explains.

Pae’s creative process intricately combines traditional techniques with cutting-edge Technology. Utilizing 3D modeling software and VR sculpting, she manipulates forms that straddle the line between the familiar and the abstract. Her works, whether painted or sculpted, embody a dialogue between the digital and the physical, allowing her to explore the boundaries of transformation and perception.

In “Permeate,” Pae’s sculptures are crafted from a diverse array of materials—resin, metal, glass—each chosen for their contrasting properties. For instance, her sculpture “Accretion” juxtaposes the rigidity of steel with the softness of resin, alluding to the symbiotic relationship between bones and muscles. This interplay of materials reinforces her exploration of fragility and strength, as well as the complexities of the body.

The exhibition also features a captivating video installation that showcases animated 3D models, revealing the infinite iterations of her work before reaching their final physical forms. Projected onto a web of laser-cut stainless steel tendrils, these pulsating forms dissolve the boundaries between internal and external, creating a dynamic experience that invites viewers to engage with the artwork on multiple sensory levels.

Pae’s artistic vision is not only rooted in her past but also looks toward a future where Technology and physical experience converge. She expresses excitement about the potential of hybrid spaces that merge virtual and tangible elements, allowing for new forms of engagement with her work. “As these boundaries dissolve, I see the future of my practice being enriched by this duality,” she shares.

In “Permeate,” Pae offers a compelling exploration of existence, identity, and transformation. Her work resonates not just as art but as a deeply personal narrative that urges viewers to reflect on their own relationships with the body, Technology, and the spaces they inhabit. With this exhibition, she continues to carve out a unique voice within the contemporary art landscape, inviting us to ponder the delicate interplay of life, memory, and the unseen realms that shape our experiences.

Meeson Pae: Permeate runs until November 2, 2024.