Gallery Chang New York will present 〈Illusion of Permanence〉, a solo exhibition by Korean artist Shin Ki Woun, from August 7 to 12, 2025. This exhibition marks the artist’s first solo show in New York and introduces, for the first time in the city, both his established works exploring the dissolution of time, materiality, and power, as well as new works documenting the demolished interior of a former Chase Bank branch in Middletown, USA.
The exhibition title 〈Illusion of Permanence〉 reveals the fiction and uncertainty embedded in the concept of “permanence.” Through processes of gradual erosion and the dismantling or disappearance of symbolic objects, Shin Ki Woun visually exposes how the symbols of authority and institutions—once believed to be everlasting—such as coins, clocks, chess pieces, and the remains of a demolished bank, can in fact be easily deconstructed and erased.
The exhibition features video works capturing the slow abrasion of a coin’s surface, installation works documenting the gradual wear of metal sculptures, and experimental video pieces that physically and visually subvert the notion of “endurance” and continuity.
Shin Ki Woun is a contemporary artist based in Seoul and Daegu. With a background in sculpture and philosophy, he works across video, installation, and performance. His practice deconstructs structures of authority, symbolism, and memory through explorations of time and materiality, encouraging sensory and reflective engagement.
He has presented works at major institutions including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Seoul), ZKM | Center for Art and Media (Germany), and Le Centquatre-Paris. This exhibition marks his first solo exhibition in New York.
Founded in New York in 2019, Gallery Chang is a contemporary art gallery dedicated to presenting internationally influential artists while engaging with their artistic journeys from a long-term perspective. Moving beyond one-off exhibitions, the gallery aims to bridge the gap between commercial galleries and museums by offering in-depth views of artists’ careers.
In 2023, Gallery Chang established its flagship space on West 55th Street in Manhattan, strategically located near major cultural institutions such as MoMA, Carnegie Hall, and New York City Center. Since then, the gallery has expanded its presence to Midtown New York (C2), Englewood, New Jersey (C3), and Seoul (C4). Today, Gallery Chang operates across four cities, actively engaging in curatorial programs and community-based projects.
Beyond solo exhibitions and institutional collaborations, Gallery Chang has positioned itself as an experimental platform that expands the possibilities of contemporary art through public art and interdisciplinary projects.
