Neil Wheelock Deforest Smith
Visual Artist | Director
Neil Wheelock Deforest Smith did not take a traditional path into the galleries of East Asia. His career began in Seoul when he was discovered using copy machines and traditional Korean paper to produce raw, unrehearsed visuals. This accidental start set the tone for a practice that ignores high-brow conventions in favor of the immediate and the discarded.
Known in South Korea as the creator of “쓰레기 예술” (Garbage Art), Smith builds his narratives from found materials. His process is a study of how the physical properties of a medium can change the message of a piece. By focusing on intuitive and spontaneous storytelling, he finds value in objects others have thrown away, forcing a dialogue between the viewer and the mundane.
Since 2023, his work has traveled across a vast geographic and cultural map, appearing in: Seoul, Tokyo, New York, and Bangkok, Yogyakarta, Scotland, and Busan. Despite the "garbage" label, his work stands up to the most rigorous contemporary standards. He has participated in exhibitions featuring influential figures like Ai WeiWei, Lee Ufan, Anish Kapoor, Kingscribbler, and Peter Leon, proving that spontaneous creation has a seat at the table of fine art.
Smith is a founding member of 헤쳐모여, an art collective based in Asia. The group focuses on hosting exhibitions that prioritize community building and inclusion, moving away from the gatekeeping often found in the art market. With solo shows in Korea and Vietnam, he continues to bridge the gap between the grit of the street and the walls of the gallery.
Tay Dixon
Visual Artist | Arts Administrator
"I am a multimedia artist who explores concepts of self-reflection, perception, gender, and dreams. My art often contains eyes and mirrors, using recycled materials I conceptualize dark imagery that reflects personal experiences.
Art is the human experience made perceivable. We better understand ourselves and connect with others through art. That is why art is more important than ever, through dark times it sheds light on what makes us human."
Links:
@art.tay.137
Peter León
Visual Artist | General Manager
About my art
My paintings explore themes of identity, uncertainty, and the stories we tell ourselves to get through the day. They often feature an expressive face surrounded by text that serves as the character's voice. My goal is to invite viewers into a dialogue with each painting that encourages them to pause and reflect on their own lives.
My thoughts on art
I once heard a quote from Nina Simone that summarizes my thoughts on art: "An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times." I think there's value in art for art's sake, and there's value in art as decoration. But the work that stays with me is art that changes the way I think about something or inspires people to see the world differently.
What I'd like to see in the future
I'd like to see the art world become more welcoming, accessible, and collaborative. That's why I love being part of the Hechyeomoyeo. We need more communities and spaces that encourage experimentation and dialogue because those are the things that keep artists motivated and moving.
작가 우갱
Woogaeng
Visual Artist | South Korean Executive Board Director
Painter, Writer, and Engineer, speaker of many languages, and all around nice guy.
Humanities book : @wgdoodle707
Scott O’Sullivan
Visual Artist | Curator | Executive Director in Ireland
Scott O’Sullivan was born out of wedlock not far from the most southern tip of the island of Ireland in 1995. He paints with his strong hand and lifts weights with his weaker one. In attempts to find balance. Scott has exhibited in Dublin, Bangkok, Da Nang, Seoul, New York and LA. I mostly make paintings that include people he knows personally.
DEADsoon
Audio Artist | Sound Curator | Manager in Ireland
I make music. I make installations. I draw and I write. I make anything I can make. I even make things I don't know how to make. All in the hopes of freedom. All from a place of love. In darkness and in light.
I want everyone to be what they are. To be what they want. To dare. To brave. To live life through art and play. To love more than yesterday.
DEADsoon.
