MANCHESTER.-The Manchester Art Gallery opened the exhibit Gwon Osang and Choe U-ram: Asia Triennial Manchester 08 through September 21. See sculptures by contemporary Korean artists Gwon Osang and Choe U-ram at Manchester Art Gallery as part of Asia Triennial Manchester 08.

Gwon Osang makes extraordinary life-size sculptures of people. He uses hundreds of photographic images to build up the surface appearance of his models, including the face, their hair and their clothes. The process gives his beautifully crafted figures both photo-realist and surreal qualities.

Following a recent Manchester residency, Gwon is now creating a new work specially commissioned for ATM08. His Manchester-inspired sculpture is of the musician Graham Massey - best known as a member of Manchester’s electronic pioneers 808 State. This new work is being displayed from 5 April together with another of Gwon's existing works Control.

Choe U-ram combines the latest precision engineering technologies with art to create robotic sculptures with echoes of organic forms. He uses cut and polished metals, machinery and electronics to create kinetic sculptures inspired by sea creatures and plant life. In a UK first for the artist, Choe U-ram is exhibiting two enormous robotic works, Urbanus Female and Urbanus Male, in the gallery's atrium.

Asia Triennial Manchester 08 is a festival of visual culture and the UK's first Asian art triennial. Five venues across the city are showcasing fresh and innovative work that represents the best of contemporary visual art from across Asia.

The festival is conceived by Shisha, the UK’s premier international agency for contemporary South Asian crafts and visual arts, in partnership with Castlefield Gallery, Chinese Arts Centre, Cornerhouse, The International 3, Manchester Art Gallery and Manchester Metropolitan University (through MIRIAD and the Faculty of Art & Design).

From 21 June – 21 September, Manchester Art Gallery also presents Gwon’s first major UK solo exhibition. This exhibition provides the chance to see further highlights of Gwon’s work together with a second new commission.