Kukwon Woo Valley of the Shadow of Death Avant Arte

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Korean artist Kukwon Woo operates at the intersection of fantasy and reality. The depictions found in his oil paintings often conflate intergenerational subject matter, from religion to art history, that he uses as a foundation to bridge a dialogue with contemporary iconography, resulting in a satirical clash of ideas.

The Seoul-based artist will soon release a new limited edition print that juxtaposes biblical tales with the world of Star Wars. Produced in collaboration with Avant Arte, Valley of the Shadow of Death makes reference to Psalm 23, a biblical prayer for courage and resilience in the face of hardship, showcasing a hilltop scene in the aesthetic of a Japanese Ukiyo-e print with Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader shown as little figures perched against one another on a bridge, as a reenactment of their famous duel in The Empire Strikes Back (1980). “Viewed in perspective, their grand battle appears inconsequential,” writes Avant Arte, “like a game of dress up. However, Woo’s scrawled prayer reintroduces existential fears passed down through millenia.”

Limited to an edition of 50, Valley of the Shadow of Death is a 13 layer textured UV pigment print with three layers of spot gloss varnish on 600gsm Somerset Tub Sized Radiant White paper mounted on heritage conservation board. The artwork measures 20 x 25 inches and will be available standalone ($2,000 USD) or as a diptych for $4,000 USD unframed. Please visit Avant Arte to preorder.

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