Dongkyun Vak, winner of the Art Vontobel photography sponsorship prize A New Gaze 3, presents his new works in an exhibition entitled Heatwave

South Korean artist Dongkyun Vak (*1992) is the third artist to be awarded the international Art Vontobel photography sponsorship prize A New Gaze and will be honored with a solo exhibition—his first in Europe—at the Swiss investment firm's premises in Zurich in May. Dedicated to emerging contemporary photography, A New Gaze is endowed with CHF 20,000 and regarded as a springboard for young talent. Dongkyun Vak was named one of the 22 Rising Stars for 2022 by Wallpaper*, one of the world's leading magazines for architecture, design, and art, in its annual series on noteworthy emerging creatives from around the world.

In his work, Dongkyun Vak explores the tension between nature and culture, man, and technology in the Anthropocene, asking himself who or what is responsible for the life-giving ecosystems of our planet and in what form. The young artist starts from the assumption that man is no longer just a small part of a bigger natural world but has become the most important factor influencing the biological, geological, and atmospheric processes of the earth. The resulting problems are well known: global warming, climate imbalance, and loss of habitats and biodiversity. Vak’s aim however, is not to simply photograph and docu-ment the destruction of our planet. Instead, he turns inwards, building something akin to a mind space in his studio, turning away from the event and instead investigates the structure of the situation. In doing so, the artist places the significance of technology for this historical turning point at the centre of his work. This results in a highly stylized world of objects that reflects both the seductiveness and disconcerting nature of the environment shaped by new technologies. Vak's exhibition explores a history in which technology slowly evolves into its own organism, its own being, thus repositioning the question of responsibility.

The theme of "Responsibility in the Anthropocene age" was central to the call for entries for A New Gaze 3: Art Vontobel Contemporary Photography Prize. Young photographers from Southeast Asia were invited to submit a project proposal on the theme. Out of the numerous candidates nominated by experts, the young South Korean Dongkyun Vak impressed the jury with both his investigative approach and the high quality of his contemplative visual language. The Art Vontobel sponsorship prize is awarded every two years, with each edition focusing on a different region and a new theme. Due to COVID-related restrictions, the exhibition is now taking place one year later than planned.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalog with contributions (D/E) by Urs Stahel, Georgina Casparis, and Buhm Soon Park. We will be happy to send you a copy upon request.