Haegue Yang

Korean-born, Washington, D.C.-based sculptor and collagist Haegue Yang uses common materials to create complex, monumental abstractions, often displayed in intricate installations. Early works by Yang utilize historical narratives and theatrical staging mechanisms, such as light projected through blinds and motion-activated perfume dispensers. Her 2008 installation Lethal Love memorialized the murder-suicide of German Green Party founder and peace activist Petra Kelly and her partner, Gert Bastian. As viewers wandered through blinds and mirrors, the scent of gunpowder and flowers was mechanically wafted after them. Other pieces have included elements of security patterning from the interiors of envelopes, fabric and clothing, and furniture.

Yang’s work has gained international attention and has been featured in the Busan Bienniale, the Venice Biennale, and at the Walker Art Center, among other major institutions. She is the recipient of the 2005 Cremer Prize from the Westfälisches Landesmuseum in Münster, Germany, and the Beloîse Prize from Kunsthalle Hamburg.