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DAN’S PAPERS
March 14, 2014 Page 25
By oliver peterson
A
sia’s first-ever exhibition of steampunk art and design opened in Seoul, South Korea last week and Southampton artist and lighting designer Art Donovan is playing a key role. A longtime steampunk artist and curator of the world’s first major exhibition of the genre at the Museum of the History of Science at Oxford University in 2009, Donovan was tapped as supervisor and co-curator of this new show, Steampunk Art Unfurled: Art of Victorian Futurism, which opened March 8 at the Artcenter IDA, in Seoul’s Hangaram Art Museum. After an 18-hour flight, he arrived in South Korea on March 5 and began the hard work of setting up for opening weekend. “You should see this place,” the East End artist beamed in a message, noting that the Artcenter spared no expense to present its vision of steampunk, the Victorian Era inspired, techno-industrial art and design movement. The ambitious exhibition—for which he wrote nearly all the descriptions and catalogue materials—features an entire gallery dedicated to Donovan’s steampunk lighting creations and sketches, as well as rooms with pieces by steampunk-influenced artists from China, France, the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Japan, Australia and the U.S. Works on display include painting, sculpture, graphic design, fashion, motorized vehicles, jewelry and digital art. “I was packing for seven straight days,” Donovan says, explaining that he sent the
museum every steampunk-inspired piece in his home and studio before heading there with his wife, Leslie. Adding to the challenge, he had to rewire all of his illuminated works for 220 voltage, to be compatible with Korean electricity. “I’m really jealous of the people with paintings and jewelry,” Donovan joked. The artist, honored to be such an integral part of this landmark exhibition, said the show’s organizers have been nothing but enthusiastic about steampunk. “They had never even seen anything like that,” he said. “They are so enthralled by culture.” Donovan, who has published two books about steampunk (The Art of Steampunk and a Revised Second Edition), used his existing relationships to secure most of the artists for the show. And it was this previous connection with the artists, along with his own experiences, that helped him scribe the catalogue and other supporting text. He will also give the exhibition’s keynote address and four lectures on the history of steampunk art, its influences and practitioners. Steampunk Art Unfurled: Art of Victorian Futurism features a number of steampunk artists from both the landmark Oxford University show and Donovan’s books, including Sam Van Olffen, Tom Banwell, Kris Kuksi and Jos De Vink, but Donovan says he’s the only one likely to attend the exhibition. While a host of artists are currently making work that fits the steampunk vision, Donovan stands out as the foremost cultural ambassador of the genre and its many facets, spanning visual
Courtesy Art Donovan
Southampton’s Major Export: Art Donovan
Artist Art Donovan (third from left) in South Korea last week
art, design and much more. The Seoul effort marks Donovan’s third steampunk exhibition, following The World’s First Steampunk Exhibition at Bridgehampton’s Hamptons Antique Galleries in 2008 and, of course, the groundbreaking show at Oxford University. In South Korea, Donovan will be discussing steampunk and its roots in both the Victorian and science fiction aesthetics, but for this exhibition his approach was more physical than intellectual. “It’s about the visual impact more so than the historical reference,” Donovan says, describing the South Koreans’ interest in steampunk. However, he notes, “They love technology—their technology is a big part of it.” And steampunk is nothing if not a marriage between art and technology. Visit donovandesign.com to learn more.
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