Poster Image of BURN TO SHINE ©Museum SAN

Since opening on April 6 at Museum SAN in Wonju, Gangwon Province, Swiss contemporary artist Ugo Rondinone's solo exhibition, BURN TO SHINE, has been extended due to enthusiastic public response. Originally scheduled to end on September 18, the exhibition will now run until December 1.


Museum SAN ©Museum SAN

As Rondinone's largest solo exhibition in Korea, BURN TO SHINE explores the cyclical journey of death and rebirth, embodying the theme of “burning to shine.” This exhibition uses the mythological phoenix as a metaphor, reflecting on the interwoven relationships between humanity and nature.

Exhibition View ©Museum SAN

Spanning three exhibition halls, the Nam June Paik Art Center, and the outdoor Stone Garden at Museum SAN, the exhibition features over 40 works across a range of media including painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, and video. Rondinone’s unique, organic visual language offers a contemplative examination of human existence and the natural world.
 
Each piece stands as an independent expression, yet unites under the overarching theme of life, death, and rebirth, a central motif that Rondinone has continually explored over the past 30 years.

Exhibition View ©Museum SAN

Regarding the exhibition title, BURN TO SHINE, Rondinone explains that he drew inspiration from Buddhist proverbs symbolizing the coexistence of life and death, as well as the myth of the phoenix in Greek mythology. Associated with the sun, the phoenix represents a cyclical being, reborn from its ashes, embodying the desire for transformation. Each work in this exhibition mirrors these cycles and transformations, conveying a profound message about life and nature to visitors.

Ugo Rondinone and his work “Liverpool Mountain”, 2018 | Image courtesy of the artist, Liverpool Echo, and TATE Liverpool

Rondinone (b. 1964, Switzerland) works across a broad spectrum of media, including painting, sculpture, installation, video, and performance, deeply exploring the nature of humanity and the environment. His works have been exhibited at prestigious institutions worldwide, such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris (2003), Whitechapel Gallery in London (2006), the Art Institute of Chicago (2013), Rockbund Art Museum in Shanghai (2014), and Palais de Tokyo in Paris (2015). In 2007, he represented the Swiss Pavilion at the 52nd Venice Biennale. Recently, he has held solo exhibitions at Storm King Art Center in New York (2023) and the Städel Museum in Frankfurt (2023).
 
To enhance understanding of the exhibition, Museum SAN plans to publish a catalog capturing the interplay between the artworks and the changing seasons. Additionally, a series of concerts and various programs connected to the exhibition are available, offering visitors a richer experience. For further details, please visit Museum SAN’s official website and social media channels.