Marco Rosignoli – Bridge Building Expert

Marco Rosignoli has more than 20 years of experience in bridge construction and design. (Source: San Francisco Public Press)

Marco Rosignoli is an expert in bridge design, construction, forensic engineering, consulting and education, with over 37 years of experience in 21 countries. Through a two-part series, Rosignoli gave readers an in-depth look into emerging megacities and their infrastructure needs. According to Rosignoli, efficient transportation is the key to an economically competitive city, and megacities will call for mega-sized bridges made of high-quality steel. Read on to find out more.

Part one: Ask an Expert: Building Bridges for Megacities

Part two: Ask an Expert: Building Bridges for Megacities – Part 2

Naim Josefi – Fashion Designer

Naim Josefi is an innovative designer who mixes fashion and technology. (Source: Naim Josefi)

Naim Josefi runs a fashion company based in Stockholm, Sweden, and is widely known for winning Project Runway Sweden back in 2012. Josefi is a fashion designer who is blurring the boundaries between science and fashion as his projects include steel dresses, 3D printed shoes and laser-printed jeans. Find out why the designer chooses to work with steel and incorporate new technologies into his art.

Read on: Ask an Expert: Fashion Forward with Steel

Professor Bill Arnold – Oil Industry Expert

Bill Arnold is a professor in the practice of energy management at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business. Previously, Professor Arnold was Royal Dutch Shell’s Washington director of international government relations and senior counsel for the Middle East, Latin America and North Africa for 16 years.

Bill Arnold is an Energy Management Professor at Rice University. (Source: Society of Petroleum Engineers)

Professor Arnold gave readers an insider’s analysis of the rapidly-changing oil industry marked by unpredictable oil prices. He says, in the midst of change, there are newly-developing business opportunities and alternative sources of fuel such as natural gas that will subsequently create more demand for high-quality steel.   

Find out more: Ask an Expert: The Role of Steel in a Changing Oil Industry

Park Jong-jae – Automotive Columnist

Park Jong-jae is a motorsports columnist and the former editor-in-chief at F1 Racing Korea. Back in May, Park contributed a two-part series on POSCO GIGA STEEL. In the first part, Park reinforced the need for lightweight materials in the auto industry and highlighted some of the most successful cases of POSCO GIGA STEEL application from POSCO’s partners including GM Korea and Ssangyong Motors.

2016 Chevy Cruze Body Structure with POSCO GIGA STEEL. (Source: World Auto Steel)

Read more: Ask an Expert: POSCO GIGA STEEL Opens Door to the Future of the Auto Industry

In part two, he took readers through the 6 different types of POSCO GIGA STEEL and how they can benefit different parts of a vehicle.

There are 6 types of POSCO GIGA STEEL. (Source: Astro Awani)

Find more information: Ask an Expert: POSCO GIGA STEEL Goes Beyond the Limits of Traditional Lightweight Materials

Gil Bruvel – Steel Artist

Gil Bruvel is a veteran artist who creates sculptures using stainless steel. (Source: Gil Bruvel)

Gil Bruvel is an artist who works with stainless steel to create beautifully crafted sculptures of the human form. For the past 40 years, Bruvel has dedicated himself to painting, drawing and sculpting. He worked on a series of stainless steel sculpture for his Flow Series that depict aspects of nature mixed with the human body. Check out his creations and learn more about why Bruvel chooses to work artistically with steel.

Take a look: Ask an Expert: Capturing the Fluidity of Life in Ribbons of Steel – An Interview with Gil Bruvel

POSCO’s Masters of Korea

Every year, POSCO names its Masters of Korea. These masters are employees who have become experts in their respective fields through years of hard work and dedication. All 3 Masters of 2017 contributed to POSCO by developing new technologies, coming up with groundbreaking ideas and finding solutions to make POSCO safer, more efficient and highly competitive in the global steel industry. Find out who they are and their journey to becoming the POSCO Masters of Korea.

Master Nam Tae-Gyu has 40 years of experience working for POSCO.

Master Nam Tae-Gyu: POSCO Masters: 40 Years in the Making

Suh Gwang-Il examines machinery at a POSCO steel mill with colleagues.

Master Suh Gwang-Il: POSCO Masters: A Cold Rolling Expert

Master Kim Yong-Hoon played a key role in automating POSCO’s production systems.

Master Kim Yong-Hoon: POSCO Masters: Leading the Way Towards Automation

Thank you to the experts that helped make the Steel Wire shine like steel in 2017. In 2018, we look forward to even more opportunities to collaborate with even more experts to help provide you, our readers, a deeper understanding of steel and its applicability across industries.

POSCO GIGA STEEL –  For Automakers

POSCO GIGA STEEL is like the iPhone X or the latest Xbox or PlayStation for automakers. It’s the newest, hottest must-have item for any type of car. Automakers are constantly working to lightweight their vehicles without compromising strength to meet increasingly stringent safety and environmental regulations. In order to offer its auto partners the ultimate solution, POSCO developed POSCO GIGA STEEL, an advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) that comes in 6 different types for a variety of applications in vehicles.

POSCO GIGA STEEL can be applied to different parts of a vehicle chassis. (Source: Renault Samsung)

Applying AHSS, including POSCO GIGA STEEL, resulted in a 26 percent reduction in the total weight of a vehicle. Not only that, POSCO GIGA STEEL emits about 10 kg less carbon emissions than aluminum from a life cycle analysis (LCA) viewpoint. Plus, POSCO GIGA STEEL is about 2.1 to 3.5 times less expensive than alternative options like aluminum. It’s no surprise that leading automakers like Renault Samsung, Ssangyong Motors and GM Korea use POSCO GIGA STEEL, proving it to be the all-time favorite gift for automakers.

PosMAC- For Photovoltaic Structure Manufacturers

Solar energy is the fastest growing source of renewable energy in the world, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). In India, solar electricity generation capacity quadrupled from 2014 to 2017 as it is the cheapest form of alternative fuel in the country. The government also plans to back the industry with USD 100 billion in investments. India is one of many countries looking to solar energy to meet their country’s environmental goals and stimulate the economy.

As a result, photovoltaic (PV) structure manufacturers around the world are working to keep up with the growing demand and gain a competitive edge with high-quality products. PosMAC is ideal for PV structures because it is highly corrosion resistant and cost-effective. Not only is the material itself lower in costs compared to other materials, PosMAC ensures a long lifecycle, decreasing maintenance costs to give manufacturers an added competitive edge. For such manufacturers, POSCO PosMAC steel is the perfect gift.

Magnesium- For Electronics Manufacturers

Magnesium is a common material in electronic devices such as laptops and smartphones. Magnesium is the perfect gift for electronics manufacturers such as LG and Samsung, as their competitiveness lies in delivering the most versatile, lightweight and convenient devices to their customers.

The Samsung Notebook 9 is one of the lightest laptops available. (Source: CNET)

Magnesium is also increasingly finding its way into the automotive industry, especially for electric vehicles (EVs), as magnesium plates and other parts allow automakers to further reduce the weight of the car. Magnesium will likely be the perfect gift for that manufacturer who is thinking ahead and always experimenting new ways to improve future models of their cars.

Hyper NO- EV Manufacturers

The market for EVs is one of the fastest growing, expected to expand from USD 27.84 billion in 2016 to USD 38.98 billion by 2021, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7 percent. Much of the success of EVs lies in its motors that will determine the EV’s efficiency, performance and feasibility for wide-spread use. As such, POSCO came up with the perfect gift for EV manufacturers – the Hyper NO.

Hyper NO is a type of electrical steel used to make electric motors. POSCO’s new technology increases the magnetic flux density and reduces core loss of electric motors, making it the perfect gift for electric motor manufacturers looking for ultimate efficiency.

Stainless Steel Products- For Everyone

There are some gifts that satisfy just about everyone, like a gift card for the movies or the nearest cafe. It’s not super special, but it’s a safe and sure choice for anyone as it is practical and functional.

Stainless steel is the ultimate gift for manufacturers as it’s one of the most widely-used materials in the world for a variety of products including surgical tools, watches, kitchenware, buildings, pipes, artistic sculptures and plenty more. It’s literally the foundation of cities and communities all over the world, and without it, the world would not have the most basic systems in place today. Moreover, stainless steel’s non-corrosive and 100 percent recyclable characteristics make it one of the best gifts for every kind of manufacturer.

No matter the type, there is a perfect gift for every manufacturer with steel. POSCO will make sure to provide even more customized and innovative solutions for its partners and continue to “keep on giving” in the new year.

Mandela Day is a global movement to honor his lifetime of service for South Africa and the world. During his lifetime, Nelson Mandela not only helped bring an end to apartheid in South Africa but was also a global advocate for human rights.

As a member of the African National Congress party beginning in the 1940s, he was a leader of both peaceful protests and armed resistance against the white minority’s oppressive regime in South Africa. Although his actions landed him in prison for nearly three decades, his limitless compassion and patience to change the world for the better made him the face of the anti-apartheid movement globally. After his release in 1990, he continued to fight against apartheid and in 1994 became the first black president of South Africa. He remained a devoted champion for peace and social justice until his death in 2013 at the age of 95.

In honor of this year’s Mandela Day, The Steel Wire takes a look at some of the most significant events of his lifetime as well as uniquely designed steel monuments to represent his life and legacy.

Mandela’s Capture Site in Howick, Kwazulu-Natal

On August 5, 1962, armed apartheid police arrived at an otherwise ordinary road outside of Howick, Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa and captured Nelson Mandela, pretending to be a chauffeur. It was on this day Nelson Mandela’s “Long Walk to Freedom” began and irrevocably changed the history of South Africa.

Today, on this significant piece of land stands 50 steel columns named Release. Built in 2011 by South African artist Marco Cianfanelli who is famous for his bold public art pieces and sculptural works made of steel, these steel columns are between 8 to 10 meters tall. They are suggestive of prison bars and represent the 50 years since Nelson Mandela’s arrest as well as the idea of many making a whole. They are arranged in a pattern that allows the viewer to see a flat image of the face of Nelson Mandela in full focus when standing at least 35 meters away as seen in the below image.

A flat image of the face of Nelson Mandela when standing 35 meters away from the 50 steel column sculpture (Photo courtesy of Marco Cianfanelli)

A side view of the face of Nelson Mandela spanning 50 steel columns (Photo courtesy of Marco Cianfanelli)

Cianfanelli calls his sculpture Release because the “arrangement of the columns create a sense or moment of fracture.”

South Africa’s First Black Law Firm in Johannesburg

Long before his arrest, Mandela had a thriving law practice to help others who were accused of crimes against the state. Between 1952 and 1956, Mandela and South African anti-apartheid politician Oliver Tambo operated South Africa’s first ever black law firm out of a three-storey Chancellor House building in Johannesburg. They helped countless black citizens who needed help securing passes which were obligatory for them to carry at all times.

Today, in front of Chancellor House, there stands another uniquely designed steel sculpture created by Marco Cianfenelli in 2013.

Aptly named the Shadow Boxer, the sculpture was inspired by the legendary Bob Gosani’s 1950s photograph of Mandela sparring on a Johannesburg rooftop. The impressive 6-metre-tall painted steel statue has an interesting design feature. Its unique lighting allows the sculpture to cast a shadow onto the court building behind it. The sculpture is multifaceted, made up of layers of painted metal sheets.Cianfanelli added red to the statue to emphasize the sculpture and to tie in with the color used on Chancellor House.

The statue of a young Nelson Mandela as a boxer stands in Johannesburg

The sculpture is an unusual piece that captures Mandela the boxer rather than Mandela, the political figure. Mandela’s explanation for his love for boxing in his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, shows how he was able to maintain a physical-fitness regimen in his impossibly small cell on Robben Island as well as his dignity in the face of unimaginable hardships.

“After a strenuous workout, I felt both mentally and physically lighter.  It was a way of losing myself in something that was not the struggle. After an evening’s workout, I would wake up the next morning feeling strong and refreshed, ready to take up the fight again.”

The 50 steel column sculpture and the Shadow Boxing statue will continue to remind the world of Mandela’s legacy and efforts to spread democracy, freedom and equality.

*Images courtesy of Marco Cianfanelli

Kaohsiung’s metamorphosis from a quiet town to a major industrial hub began in the late nineteenth century under Japanese colonial rule.

In 1900, a railway was built between Kaohsiung and Tainan, which had previously been southern Taiwan’s most significant town. Shortly thereafter, harbor facilities for large ships began to crop up, setting the stage for the establishment of Taiwan’s first iron and steel mill in 1919. Steel production continued to increase with an additional steel mill built in the 1970s.

As the city’s high tech industries continue to glisten with an ever-growing luster, the Kaohsiung City Government is working to strengthen its cultural identity to showcase the crucial importance of steel.

Steel by the Sea

Perhaps one of the most notable depictions of the city’s cultural transformation is the Pier 2 Art Center, Kaohsiung’s premiere art district.

Two decades ago, the area was home to a cluster of abandoned warehouses. But in the early 2000s, the site was converted into a venue for artistic creation and experimentation by government authorities and members of local cultural communities.

The project has since led to the establishment of a sprawling campus of large, sophisticated spaces developed to host a variety of activities such as craft fairs and art shows. Included among them are exhibition venues and stores operated by emerging Taiwanese cultural and creative product designers like the Yan Chen Metal Workshop, which uses its retail space to sell jewelry and host metalworking classes.

In 2015, the Pier 2 Art Center also launched an artist residency project. Under the program, the city government subsidizes residencies at the site, typically for periods of about three months. As of this past March, 37 Taiwanese and international artists had participated in the project.

Celebrating Steel

The Kaohsiung City Government’s Bureau of Cultural Affairs has also organized a range of cultural events and art fairs at the Pier 2 Art Center, such as the Kaohsiung International Steel & Iron Sculpture Festival.

The biennial event was established in 2002 to celebrate the seaport city’s historical relationship with iron and steel. Like several of Taiwan’s other festivals, the Steel and Iron Festival features art that draws on materials vital to its local economy.

The event showcases the often overlooked aesthetics of iron and steel sculpture from an international perspective, integrating a number of specially commissioned works by metal craft artists.

Distinguished steel and iron sculptors from around the globe convene at the event where they fabricate new works over a two-week period from approximately 120 tons of materials provided by a locally based steelworks. Once completed, their ostentatious metal structures are installed along the pier, adding a renewed vibrancy to the city’s cultural landscape.

In addition to creating new works, participating artists also provide the public with insight into the subtleties of ferrous metal sculpture through public workshops and lectures. The festival also offer historical tours for those who want to learn more about the city’s relationship with ferrous metals.

Science, Steel and Spiraling Slides

The rapid growth of Kaohsiung over the past century was no doubt catalyzed by outstanding breakthroughs in technology. These advancements are not only celebrated through the city’s festivals, but also exhibitions at the National Science and Technology Museum (NSTM).

Opened in 1997, the NSTM aims to enrich citizens’ knowledge of science and technology, and record and present Taiwan’s related achievements. Exhibitions on scientific principles and applications that complement the local heavy industries not only create educational opportunities, but also enrich the culture of local industrial communities.

Since its establishment, the museum has since grown to be the world’s second-largest science museum, and is constantly adding attractions to allure even more visitors. Last year, for example, the NSTM unveiled a giant spiraling slide, which lets visitors slide from the top to the bottom in 12 seconds at a top speed of 67 kilometers per hour.

It enables visitors to not only experience the fun of sliding at a high speed, but to learn about physics-related subjects such as free fall, centrifugal force, friction and centripetal force. The slide helped draw about 800,000 visitors to London’s Tate Modern art gallery within three months following its launch in 2014.

The slide is constructed of acrylic glass and, appropriately enough for Kaohsiung, stainless steel.

As Taiwan’s steel city continues to transform into a capital of culture, it is certain that its steel roots will not soon be forgotten.

Steel City Highlight: Birmingham, USA

Steel City Highlight: Pittsburgh, USA

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Steel Igloo

To explore the full potential of steel for construction materials, POSCO collaborated with architect Kim Chan Joong, CEO of The System Lab, to create the steel sculpture, “Steel Igloo.” Produced using POSCO’s world premium PosSD stainless steel, Steel Igloo will be on display at Seoul Kumho Museum, until December 13, 2015.

Steel Igloo is 3.5 meter tall, and was inspired by a forest scene.

Steel Igloo is a 3D structure made of 177 steel sheets. Light from inside the sculpture shines through uniquely punctured steel panels, recreating the ambience of light and shadows of the deep forest. Viewers can see their own reflection in the reflective panel surfaces, providing a unique visual experience.

POSCO played an active role in the manufacturing process, including the polishing, bending and reflective effect based on Kim Chan Joong’s blueprint. In building construction, steel is often used as a structural support; however, through this collaborative effort, Kim Chan Joong explored the possibility of using steel for both exterior and interior frames.

Left: After taking photographs of the forest, the designer mapped images on a steel panel surface. Right: Installation model

When the exhibition concludes, Steel Igloo will be transported to a forest in nearby Suwon. After reaching its final destination, the mirrored surface of the sculpture will reflect the natural light and imagery of the surrounding scenery. Steel Igloo will become an enchanting part of nature. 

POSCO Steel in Construction Design

Stone, wood and other building materials have been used for construction in many ways. The use of steel was previously limited due to its need for large scale construction machines.

Despite this, steel is proving to be more popular as its value continues to be recognized.

POSCO plans to continue its collaboration with Kim Chan Joong to develop interior and exterior steel materials for construction. The project is expected to be completed in 2016. Additionally, POSCO will develop its steel design construction based on this project.

By applying the concept of solutions marketing, which provides choices for materials selection, surface polishing, scission and welding, POSCO strives to expand the potential for steel in the market.

Production process from start: surface grinding and polishing treatments, cutting and perforating, bending and folding, assembly

CEO Kim Chan Joong expressed that he wanted to create a steel constructed sculpture that embodies the physical characteristics of steel, as well as steel’s wide range of application in machinery.

Concrete, brick and glass cannot produce the wide range of products, from micro to massive scale. Steel is one of a few materials that is able to do so, and the Steel Igloo project showcases that point. Based on insight from the production of Steel Igloo, POSCO will continue to explore the wide applications of steel. 

Design Solutions with POSCO Steel

Construction of the Best Western Hotel, located in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, is one of the most well-known collaborative projects completed by POSCO and Kim Chan Joong.

The Best Western Hotel, which includes five underground levels and 15 ground levels, recently passed reviews by the Architectural Committee. The building’s main feature includes exterior panels made from POSCO steel.

POSCO PosSD stainless steel can be used for many purposes, from art to building construction. The adoption of PosSD is expected to expand due to its ability to be used for many purposes. [Image: Building construction blueprint, set for completion in 2016]

Be sure you never miss any of the exciting steel stories from The Steel Wire by subscribing to our blog.

This month’s theme, “Steel Wonders of the World,” will focus on stories about some of the greatest engineering and architectural structures of history.

The Great Ship

The Great Eastern was built on the dream of constructing a ship that could circumnavigate the world, and would be big enough to carry the 15,000 tons of coal necessary to do so. It was to be five time larger than any ship the world had seen, an engineering marvel. The engineer behind its design, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, is considered to be the most gifted engineer of the Victorian Age. He helped create the modern industrial world; from his revolutionary visions came the world’s first global transportation system and his railway designs made continental travel faster than ever possible. His bridges spanned distances never before seen.

Ship of Steel
The first ship made almost entirely of metal, the construction of the Great Eastern took years and over 8,600 tons of iron, four times more than any steel structure before it. Brunel engineered the all-iron double-skinned hull which was made from 30,000 steel plates, weighing six tons each. It was the first ship built with a double-skinned hull, and it would be decades before another ship employed the design that is standard today. Its steam engines were higher than four stories and produced the power of 8,000 horses. It combined a sail propulsion system with a single screw and paddle system.

Built to carry 4,000 passengers, it was the largest moving man-made structure of its time. It never saw the commercial success that Brunel envisioned, yet the Great Eastern revolutionized shipping engineering and design. It would be 50 years before the world saw another ship of its magnitude.
The gigantic ship of steel would be the final work of the great industrial engineer. Building the Great Eastern bankrupted Brunel and it was considered a failure during his life; however, it is now revered as one of the greatest feats in engineering.

Coming Up
Following our look into the history of steel, this month’s theme, “Steel Wonders of the World,” is inspired by the BBC documentary series, The Seven Wonders of the Industrial World.” You can find the full series, created by Deborah Cadbury, on YouTube.
The modern world we live in would not be possible without the influence of steel. As a global leader in steel production, POSCO is committed to leading innovations for the future. Stay tuned for the following stories.

• The Brooklyn Bridge: A historical look at the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge and other modern suspension bridges that it has inspired
• The Panama Canal: Building the Panama Canal took 25 years and the efforts of two nations. The Panama Canal connected the world by connecting two oceans
• The Hoover Dam: A true testament to the ingenuity of man, the Hoover Dam was built under budget and ahead of schedule
• Steel Innovations Driven by POSCO: Take a look at some of the most famous steel structures built with steel produced by POSCO
• Steel and Art: POSCO’s steel is used for art sculptors and the full scale construction of buildings. This is the story of the steel sculpture, “Steel Igloo,” created by POSCO architect, Chan Joong Kim.

Be sure you never miss any of the exciting steel stories from The Steel Wire by subscribing to our blog.

“As I stepped closer to this work of art, the peace of the forest disappeared. The trees, the rays of light and the outlines of the trees’ roots gradually scattered, leaving behind only entangled wires. They were all I could see. As I backed up, the forest reappeared, at first glance appearing like pencil drawings. Then I asked myself, is what I see now the forest, or not?” Sung-ran Park, Novelist

What We See is Not Everything

Seung-mo Park is a sculptor who uses stainless steel wires to create complex and stunning works of art. Park layers the wire, bending and welding it until he completes his three-dimensional sculptures.

The right distance is required to enjoy Seung-mo Park’s “Yeon-gi 8460.” Yeon-gi is a Buddhist concept of connection; everything is interdependent. All things arise as a result of multiple causes and conditions. As viewers draw closer, shapes scatter until finally they may wonder what they saw. Wire entanglements, which were used to make the piece, are all that remain. Suddenly, the viewers can feel the weight of the wire materials, and the change of the property can be confusing. Some of Park’s pieces weigh over one ton.

“Most people who see Yeon-gi have the same feeling,” says the artist, Seung-mo Park with a smile. Born in Gyung-nam Sanchung, he speaks with using a local dialect. Having been raised in a small country town, there was not much to see or do, so he occupied his time by drawing pictures on the ground. Although not really sure why, his usual subject was horses. Amazed, his friends would surround him, watching while he drew. After some time, his life would change because of a phone call from one of these friends.  

Most people focus on the material first. When Park exhibited his aluminum series, people often asked him how he came to decide on aluminum. They wondered how aluminum wires could be used to create everything objects like bicycles, instruments, statues of Buddha and even people.

A bicycle is a bicycle. An instrument is an instrument. Buddha is Buddha. But are the sculptures even real? The sculptures made of meticulously wound up wires are all empty inside. What the viewers think they see, isn’t truly there. The intensity of the subject matter and the difficulty of the pieces of art captivated audiences.

Seung-mo Park says of his work, “You recognize it clearly as a picture from a distance first, but as you start to approach, it begins to fade and you feel a sense of alienation. People usually move back to view the work again, what I want is only for them to ask themselves at that moment – ‘Is it real or not?’”

(Image: http://bit.ly/1JUM6aL)

Intertwining Connections with Steel

He had previously thought about creating art with steel. By chance, he spoke to his friend who happened to be a painter. “Different muscles are developed depending on the environment where a man grows up. And one can know who he is and how he has lived so far based on them.” That story remained with him for a long time. He wondered, was he made in a same way? If environment makes a man, is man not made of particles which are, in effect, just tangled connections?”

Park began work on Yeon-gi based on that idea; however, it was difficult to find adequate material to represent particles. He tried working with straw numerous times, but it couldn’t be molded. Aluminum was laborious to weld, but the biggest challenge was that it collapsed and couldn’t hold its shape. Steel was the final option. Steel is now his most favorite material because steel is capable of being molded and carved. Still it took a long time to find a way to make steel represent particles. 

Who Am I?

A phone call with his hometown friend prompted Park to ask himself, “Who am I?” His friend reminded him he once drew pictures very well. At that moment, Park realized that while he had once believed it was his mission, he only started to draw to get the attention of others. He immediately stopped studying and headed to India. While he was visiting Parbat Mountain, he found himself drawing again while sitting in a café. Speaking about his vision as active artist, he says, “I think there’s no answers. In the past, I tried to find answers. But now, all I think about is finding the question.”

(Image: http://bit.ly/1UDLRUy)

After the interview, the artist shared a photo of a back view of Yeon-gi. Yeon-gi is not a work of art that can be viewed passively. The audience actively views it from all angles. They will find more light from the back view than the front.

What is this? What is the difference between the back and the front of the wire entanglements? When the audience considers these questions, a complete understanding of the work is discovered. It is this duality that has been central to Seung-mo Park for a long time; life and death, dream and reality. The images he creates are vague, like a fantasy. We are only particles too, such as the trees and water in Yeon-gi. Suddenly, the audience finds themselves asking themselves the question, “Who am I?” There was no clear answer, but the question is enough.

Steel has been used for some 3,800 years and has played a significant role in civilization throughout the history of mankind. From its use in the ancient weapons and hand tools of Rome and India, to the bridges and modern architectural marvels of today, the metal has been utilized in just about every conceivable way and it is seemingly impossible to imagine a world without it.

Unsurprisingly, as times have changed, so has the way we use steel. Not only has it been a practical material of function, but it has evolved into one of form, too, as a medium of art that transcends eras of historical metal relics to modern design. Nevertheless, many ancient steel artifacts, such as Damascus steel swords or Buddhist sculptures, for example, can be considered works of art themselves; the level of detail and quality of craftsmanship demonstrated in such pieces are spectacular, especially taking into account that they were created without the use of modern technology.

Today, sculpting steel is a form of artistry unlike any other and, in the hands of the right person, the durable, malleable material is capable of being transformed into just about anything the imagination can fathom.

An Artistic Metamorphosis

Contemporary artists of the 1900s continued to expand steel’s boundaries as a medium of art. American artist Alexander Calder changed the course of modern art by developing a pioneering technique to sculpt and twist wire into poetic, abstract shapes to create three-dimensional mobiles that hang in uncanny, perfect balance. Later on in his career, Calder devoted himself to making outdoor monumental sculptures in bolted sheet steel that continue to adorn public plazas across the world. Similarly, Richard Serra, often hailed as the world’s “greatest living sculptor”, also incorporated unconventional, industrial materials to accentuate the physical properties of art in the 1960s. His works, which are primarily large-scale and site-specific that engage with a particular urban or landscape setting, have become known all around the globe and have been the inspiration behind the designs of everything from electronics to fashion.

A Journey through the Art of Steel

Perhaps nowhere is this evolution from function to form more clear than at the POSCO Art Museum in Seoul, South Korea, which, to mark the foundation’s 20^th anniversary, is hosting an exhibition entitled Cheori Cheolcheol: From the Four Devas to Robot Taekwon V until July 7 (after which it will be held at the Pohang POSCO Gallery from July 17 to August 13).

The exhibition, which displays statues, handicrafts and furniture, among other works, from the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) to modern times, aims to illustrate the past, the present and the future of steel in our everyday lives.

Upon arrival, visitors are greeted by “Robot Taekwon V”, a sculpture inspired by an animated superhero robot of the same name popular in the 1970s, by Kim Taek-ki, a young artist who has been in the spotlight for his creative ideas.

Another highlight is “Yeongi”, an extraordinary landscape piece by Seungmo Park. In his Maya series (“illusion” in Sanskrit), of which the work is a part of, Park sketches and cuts two-dimensional contours on stainless steel mesh to create a type of three-dimensionality, which alters the appearance of the works depending on the angles from which they are viewed.

Each of the pieces on display at the POSCO Art Museum allows visitors to experience the diverse and sometimes contradicting aspects of steel, which are both strong and soft, and cold and hot.

By taking a look at the ancient artifacts of the distant past, as well as the futuristic works of contemporary times, it is clear that not only has steel been used for more than a thousand years in daily life, but it has also breathed life into the passion of artists throughout time.