Choi Jeong Hwa exhibition

We first noticed the work of Choi Jeong Hwa back in 1998 at the 'Seamless' exhibition in Amsterdam, which was in fact the Seoul-based artist's first foray into the professional circuit. And we've kept our tabs on him ever since. The vibrant colours and eclectic materials that he uses echo the work of Christo, another of our favourite scale and material-defying installation artists.

'Welcome', currently taking over the Wolverhampton Art Gallery, is Choi's first solo exhibition to be displayed in the UK. The exhibition explores the role of art in today's society, at the same time incorporating global, cultural diversity by using a mish-mash of cultural references, borrowed from a range of clearly traceable sources.

'Welcome' combines impressive sculptures, elaborate constructions, and colourful installations inside, outside and around the whole gallery. The atrium plays host to a giant chimney built from black plastic carnival baskets alongside traditional Caribbean carnival costumes, while the exterior of the building is wrapped in colourful material in diagonal strands, like a vast Indian wedding decoration.

17 July 2007 | Art