New York, NY – SPACE776 presents Play!, a group exhibition featuring the works of Herok Kim, Shin-Yeon Moon, and Tyler Renè Angelo. Through painting, sculpture, and drawing, these artists engage with the concept of play as a space for exploration of form, movement, and transformation, embracing its spontaneity, structure, and boundless possibilities.  Play! investigates the amusement that comes from art in its various stages, of ideation, creation, presentation, and collection, enjoyed by both the viewer and the artist.

Play — it is an act of creation, a test of limits, and a moment of transformation. In this three-person exhibition, the artists explore the multiple dimensions of play through visual storytelling, abstraction, and symbolism. Bold color palettes, gestural brushwork, and layered compositions characterize Kim’s atmospheric paintings. His works explore the perceptions of movement and space, evoking the theatricality of memory and illusion, where reality blurs with the staged performances stemming from the subconscious. Moon’s winsome illustrations highlight play in a traditional sense, referencing childhood games and the signifiers of fun. The intricate details within her pieces reveal a lively and imaginative narrative. And Angelo’s sculptural works navigate the themes of identity, memory, and societal expectations, blurring the lines between nostalgia and cultural commentary. Engaging with play as form and tactility, his geometric structures guide the body and the eye through shapes reminiscent of mazes, games, and movement. 

Play! explores the convergence of spontaneity, experimentation, and interaction within the artistic landscape. Providing a fluid, dynamic, and immersive experience, the exhibition fosters a deeper connection between the artist, the art, and the audience. Together, these artists extend a call to the audience for play, inviting them to engage with the works as not only spectators, but also participants in the possibilities of movement, perception, and imagination.