Seo Young Deok
"I want to show, through my works, the portraits of our time where personal thoughts and lives are ignored."
Seo Young Deok is a contemporary South Korean sculptor internationally recognized for his powerful human figures constructed entirely from metal chains. His work transforms industrial materials into highly expressive sculptures that explore themes of identity, resilience, and the emotional weight of modern life.
Trained in environmental sculpture, Seo Young Deok draws inspiration from classical anatomy and Eastern philosophy, creating hollow yet monumental figures that convey both strength and vulnerability. Each sculpture is meticulously welded link by link, using chains sourced from bicycles and machinery materials that symbolize the physical and psychological bonds imposed by society.
Through this unconventional medium, Seo Young Deok reflects on the human condition in an industrialized world, examining the tension between freedom and constraint, individuality and structure. His sculptures invite viewers to contemplate inner struggle, endurance, and quiet introspection, offering a striking balance between raw materiality and poetic form.
Seo Young Deok’s work has been exhibited internationally and is held in prominent private and institutional collections worldwide. His distinctive approach places him at the intersection of technical mastery and emotional depth, redefining contemporary figurative sculpture through innovation and meaning.