Jong Oh was born in Mauritania in the West Saharan desert in 1981. Though he spent most of his childhood in Spain, Oh later relocated to South Korea. His work has been exhibited in the United States, Korea, Mexico, and Europe.

 

A recurring theme in Oh’s work is perception, vague and delicate, perhaps stemming from the artist’s multi-cultural experience during his youth. Jong Oh manipulates simple materials, turning them into creations that generate philosophical reflections on the physical space we occupy. String, weights, dowels, paint, plexiglass, and graphite lines are arranged in fragile compositions. Gravity, light, and shadow are essential components; every aspect is of consequence and questions the limits of our perception. The works resemble subtle and restrained visual poems, only a few lines long, that address the universal. The audience is reminded of the elegance and beauty of the overlooked details in life outside the gallery, often unseen due to the urgency of day-to-day living.