Mark Yang
Installation view: Mark Yang, Clubhouse Gallery, 2025. Courtesy of the artist and CLUBHOUSE, Wellington, FL
Mark Yang’s latest solo exhibition at CLUBHOUSE delves into the human body’s complex relationships, not only through his masterful rendering of anatomy but also through a nuanced exploration of symmetry, color, and history. The exhibition presents three pairs of paintings, each set embodying Yang’s ongoing investigation into the emotional and physical tension that defines human interaction.
MARK YANG Picnic With a Sculpture, 2024-25 Oil and charcoal on canvas 42 x 56 in
The duality of Yang’s work is immediately apparent. Rather than typical mirrored opposites, his paintings function as complementary companions, each pair reflecting a shared visual and conceptual foundation, though with differing tonalities and movements. This duality is most striking in works like Bellini VIII and Bellini IX, which stand as both visual opposites and metaphysical reflections. Inspired by his visit to the Vincenzo Bellini Museum in 2024, Yang pays homage to the Venetian master’s ability to shape light and body, yet he imbues his works with an unmistakable modern intensity. The lively, colorful exuberance of Bellini VIII contrasts sharply with the somber, introspective mood of Bellini IX, reflecting Yang’s exploration of internal and external conflict. The rich palette in Bellini VIII conveys a sense of liberation and energy, while the darker tones of Bellini IX offer a psychological depth that invites reflection on suffering and restraint.
MARK YANG Bellini IX, 2025 Oil and charcoal on canvas 42 x 30 in
Yang's relationship to art history is crucial to understanding the depth of his work. His figures are sculptural, marked by a sense of muscular tension that recalls the compositions of Michelangelo and the bold deconstructions of Picasso. The artist weaves these historical references into his own contemporary vision, where the figures are no longer idealized forms but fragmented, dynamic bodies. There are echoes of Yves Tanguy’s surrealist bodies in the sprawling limbs and ambiguous contours, which appear almost dreamlike, yet rooted in the tangible world. The bodies in Yang’s work, entangled and distorted, challenge the viewer to reconsider the traditional depictions of the human form. By removing facial identities and focusing on body parts, Yang complicates the cultural understanding of masculinity and gender, especially in relation to his South Korean heritage and upbringing in the U.S.
Installation view: Mark Yang, Clubhouse Gallery, 2025. Courtesy of the artist and CLUBHOUSE, Wellington, FL
The paintings’ unique color relationships also contribute to their thematic depth. The vibrant use of complementary colors—often in rich reds, yellows, and deep blues—heightens the sense of conflict and connection between the figures. This chromatic interplay not only evokes emotional resonance but also mirrors the psychological and physical tensions inherent in the human condition.
MARK YANG Yoga With a Sculpture, 2024 Oil and charcoal on canvas 42 x 56 in
In this exhibition, Yang also reveals his process as a painter. His brushwork is calculated yet expressive, balancing precision with abstraction. The physicality of the figures, often entwined in a dance of dynamic movement, feels sculptural, their limbs contorted in ways that invite both abstraction and interpretation. These corporeal tensions, between unity and fragmentation, align with the artist's larger exploration of cultural and gender identities, particularly as they shift between his native Korea and the broader American context.
MARK YANG Bellini VIII, 2024-25 Oil and charcoal on canvas 42 x 30 in, Courtesy the artist and CLUBHOUSE, Wellington, FL
Mark Yang’s work is not only an exploration of the human figure—it is a meditation on the complexities of identity, movement, and perception. Through his intricate use of historical references, paired compositions, and dynamic color relationships, Yang invites the viewer to engage with the body in its rawest and most intimate forms. His work, ever rooted in art historical traditions, redefines how we view the body, elevating it from a mere subject of representation to a vehicle for cultural and emotional expression. This exhibition continues Yang’s evolution as a pivotal figure in contemporary painting, exploring not just the human form but the intricate, often conflicting relationships that define our existence.