yong ho ji: hybrid-human tire sculpture

'wolf man 1' (hybrid human) by yong ho ji
2010
130 x 240 x 180 cm
used tires, steel, synthetic resin
image courtesy of gana art

korean artist yong ho ji has expanded his 'mutant mythos' series, continuing to create sculptures with layers of used tire strips
bound together by synthetic resins on supporting frames of steel, wood, or styrofoam. examining genetically modified organisms
and darwin's evolutionary theory, this body of work depicts eight stages of transformation in the tradition of classical sculpture:
carnivorous, herbivorous and omnivorous animals, anthropods, fish, hybrid animals, hybrid humans, and finally humans.

having grown up at the base of a large mountain in korea, ji adopted tires as his signature material based on a childhood memory
of the spare wheel on his family's jeep, vital in the rural landscape where his grandmother raised cattle and other livestock.
this early exposure to both domesticated and wild animals informed his desire to make art about humanity's responsibility to nature,
via subject matter as well as recycled materials.

'man 1' (human)
2011
90 x 100 x 180 cm
used tires, steel, synthetic resin
image courtesy of gana art

'man 1', side views
images courtesy of yong ho ji

'bull man 4' (hybrid human)
2010
100 x 150 x 200 cm
used tires, steel, synthetic resin
image courtesy of gana art

'horse man 2' (hybrid human)
2011
150 x 150 x 200cm
used tires, steel, synthetic resin
images courtesy of yong ho ji

'deer woman 2' (hybrid human)
2009
43 x 75 x 155 cm
used tires, steel, synthetic resin
images courtesy of yong ho ji

'shark 13' (fish)
2011
240 x 130 x 110 cm
used tire, synthetic resins
images courtesy of yong ho ji

'zebra head 11' (herbivorous animal)
2010
105 x 52 x 90 cm
used tire, steel, wood, styrofoam
images courtesy of yong ho ji