SURGE, 2013
Electrical plugs, 10 painted MDF panels with wooden back frame
8 ft h x 40 ft w x 5 in d
2013
Installation at the Korean Cultural Center,
Los Angeles, CA
Jean Shin: Surge
Surge, created from remnants of technological consumption, references both electrical and natural phenomena. A vast collection of obsolete electrical chargers forms a dramatic image of a great wave that spans forty feet of the gallery wall. Reflecting on culture’s dependency on technology, the work speaks to the growing demand to power mobile devices as well as the eminent threat of being outmoded. Shown in the context of the Korean Cultural Center LA, Surge’s interpretation of the contemporary digital landscape makes a poignant connection to the tech-savvy Korean Community that prides itself on producing and consuming the latest electronic gadgets.