Form of Self
Artist: ETC , Jungsuck Kanag, Mirae Kim, Jaebum Kim, Sangjun Oh, Eunju Roh, Lee Woo-Sung, Kyung-Ho Back, Yoo Haw-So, An Min-Jeong, Lim Ju-Yeon, Seo-Yong Chang .
Date: May 2015
Location: Dongduk Gallery, Seoul
Introduction
The exhibition began as a critical approach to the ‘personal statements’. Personal statement(which refers where you describe yourself on CV or motivation letters when you apply for jobs, which also simply defines your social status and reputation.) has become one of the hurdles young adults have to overcome before they can take part in the real world. We all often exaggerate even distort our true selves to be best fitted to the requirements of such personal statements, the charade of which has even come to a point where we call it “personal fiction” instead of “ personal statement."
Such a social trend(in South Korea) has brought us to ask, is it our existential limitation as human beings to conform to the ‘norm’ modern capitalism has forced upon us? Can we think of a creative response to such norms? Through this exhibition, we have empathized with artists who have made their efforts, however weak or trivial they may be, to this end - to discover our true selves.
Together with the artists, we curators aimed to recognize our present state where we confine ourselves within the frame that the society mandates, and at the same time, to identify the potential of art as an alternative that pursues the true ‘form of self’ which will create aesthetic harmony and critical coexistence. Even though it may sound premature, we hold our ground that this is the cornerstone of creating a community that embraces diversity and endlessness of youngsters’ lives. The exhibition stands as our statement that we will not resign in our efforts to change the conditions of our lives.
Artist description
ETC (Enterprise of Temporary Consensus) express their feelings that artists also can do their share in society. Jungsuck Kanag tells, in an honest, serene tone, the stories of people in their 20’s who face a gloomy future. Mirae Kim turns her eyes towards the terror and instability of youngsters who have to jump into the fierce jungle for survival. Jaebum Kim searches, within posing models in front of the camera, for the passive way of life personal statements force upon us. Sangjun Oh escapes from the ever more aggressive and speedy world, and forms his own imaginative world. Eunju Roh designs an ‘architecture of support,’ required for citizens in the modern world. Kyung-Ho Back staggers on the verge of normality and abnormality that the society defines. Heaven Baek shows us what the ‘real’ society looks like, formed by inter-relations between individual members of the community. See sang tells us that we need to look back upon ourselves who so undoubtedly confirm to things with which we are familiar. An Min-Jeong searches for her true self within her personal experience and everyday life. Yoo Haw-Soo looks back upon the reality that we have to earn money to do what we dream of. Lee Woo-Sung captures in his lens the emotions 880 thousand-won generation youngsters are experiencing. Lim Ju-Yeon pictures her true self that reveals itself only after the artist’s clothes, the symbol of fakeness and disguise, are taken off. Seo-Yong Chang talks about how other people’s perceptions define our identities. Ho Sang-Gun focuses on the faces of everyday objects we casually see.
SEE BELOW OTHER PROJECTS
YS.Creative