If your summer art crawl takes you through Chelsea’s galleries, Between Movement and Stillness at AP SPACE is an exhibition that should be at the top of your list. On view through August 30, 2025, the dual exhibition features the work of two internationally celebrated artists: Serena Bocchino and Yoo Choong Mok. While their practices differ significantly in form and material, both artists explore themes of abstraction, emotion, and transformation. Together, they create a dialogue that juxtaposes opposites: motion and pause, energy and reflection, sound and silence.
Upon entering the gallery, you are likely to sense the conversation unfolding between Bocchino’s dynamic, rhythmic paintings and Yoo’s meditative glass sculptures. Rather than competing for attention, the works complement one another, with each piece subtly enhancing the presence of the other. The exhibition evokes a space that is both immediate and reflective, where time seems to slow and encourage deeper engagement.
Bocchino’s paintings radiate vitality. Known for her ability to translate the intangible qualities of music—especially jazz—into visual form, Bocchino paints as if composing a musical score. Her process is influenced by synesthesia, a neurological condition that allows her to “see” sound as colors, shapes, and lines. For Bocchino, music is not only a source of inspiration but also an integral collaborator. As a result, her works often convey a sense of fluidity and movement akin to a live performance. Layers of enamel, oil, and graphite flow across her canvases like improvisational notes; each stroke, drip, and swirl resonates in its own way.
Photo Courtesy: AP Space (Blessings Enamel and Oil Paint on Canvas by Serena Bocchino)
Bocchino’s career began in New York’s East Village art scene, where she quickly gained recognition for her unique approach. Early in her career, she was selected by Susan Rothenberg for a group exhibition alongside artists such as Eric Fischl, April Gornik, and Jenny Holzer, which helped establish her as an emerging voice in American abstraction. A PS1/MoMA studio residency followed, which opened the door to her first international solo exhibition in Rome. Over the years, Bocchino’s work has traveled widely, appearing in collections and exhibitions across the United States, Europe, and Asia, including at MoMA PS1, the Bronx Museum, and the CAFA Museum in Beijing, where several of her pieces are part of the permanent collection.
Her paintings don’t just hang on the walls; they seem to breathe with the room. Standing before one, you might sense the rhythm of jazz or the arc of a dancer’s movement captured in a single visual moment.
If Bocchino’s work is a visual crescendo, Yoo Choong Mok’s glass sculptures provide a calming contrast. Yoo’s pieces are delicate studies in subtlety, composed of hand-blown glass droplets carefully arranged on panels of yellow wood or raw canvas. These glass forms capture light, shifting and transforming as the day progresses, casting shadows that evolve over time. Each piece invites reflection on impermanence, echoing the idea that memory—like light—is ever-changing.
Yoo’s work is inspired by dancheong, the intricate decorative painting tradition found in Korean temples, as well as the five symbolic colors in Korean culture. His art blends traditional Korean aesthetics with contemporary minimalism, creating a fusion that feels both rooted in history and attuned to modern sensibilities. A graduate of Namseoul University, with advanced degrees from the University of Sunderland in the UK and a PhD from Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Yoo has exhibited widely in Korea, Europe, and the U.S. His numerous accolades include the 2013 National Glass Center Grand Prize and the 2007 NICHE Award, further affirming his place as a prominent figure in contemporary glass art.
When viewed together, Bocchino’s vibrant paintings and Yoo’s meditative sculptures create an atmosphere that feels both dynamic and tranquil. Her paintings are filled with movement; his sculptures remain still. Yet both artists share a commitment to material experimentation and emotional depth, crafting works that encourage viewers to pause, look more closely, and experience a deeper emotional connection.
Photo Courtesy: AP Space (Formation – Blossom of Recollection 2023 Glass, Gold Leaf, Acrylic on Canvas by Yoo Choong Mok (left), Rumblings 2020 Enamel Paint with Collage Elements on Prepared Raw Canvas by Serena Bocchino (right))
Between Movement and Stillness is more than just an exhibition; it is an immersive experience. It invites you to consider the space between contrasts, where transformation often occurs. For anyone seeking an art experience that is both thought-provoking and calming this season, this exhibition is one not to be missed.
