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The Korean Cultural Centre UK presents the 3rd annual exhibition of contemporary art by UK based Korean Artists.
"Future's Future's Future" brings together the exciting and inspiring work of eight Korean artists, each living and working in the UK: Jinkyun AHN, Jung Pyo HONG, Jung-Ouk HONG, Minae KIM, Jin Han LEE, Luna Jungeun LEE, Jung Wook MOK, Hyung Jin PARK.
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The exhibition was curated by Stephanie Seungmin Kim and Jeremy Ackerman.
Curator’s statement:
Stephanie Seungmin KIM
The UK-Korean Artists exhibitions are not strictly prescribed shows. Yet these exhibitions represent what the Korean artists in the UK can offer. This year, we return with the theme “Future’s Future Futures”, where the artists were asked to respond to the phrase in their own individual way.
How we came to the theme is quite interesting in its own right. Last year, a common theme arose among the artists’ works: Surveillance. The exhibition evolved to be called “Supervisions”, and works depicting artistic interpretations of the world around us being monitored were expressed through self-monitoring CCTVs, a digital tapestry of social networks, a photographic diary of moments of ethical dilemmas for example.
When the exhibition opened, we received a comment that the exhibition was very forward looking. Indeed, in the following year 2010, the Tate Modern had a show with the same theme and the Hayward Gallery showed a similar mix of genres as we had done. It became clear that this generation of Korean artists is very much experimental and contemporary.
In an article about Seoul & Art in W magazine Mark Schatzker wrote,
“What Koreans are thinking about is the future. And the faster they can get there, the better.” (P88 Nov Issue)
Jeremy AKERMAN:
Very often during the visits I make to Korea I find myself noticing building sites proclaiming slogans like ‘building a better future’ and variations along that sentiment. The signs are in Korean and English so clearly the developers have a global audience in mind. I like building sites as a matter of course and have always been fascinated by peering through the boards to see the construction going in inside. I have noticed how increasingly the outward face of the site shows massive shiny photos of the architects dream in distinct contradiction to the muddy hole within.
Choosing a name for a group exhibition is difficult as one always ends up with something so general in an effort to cover all bases. So thinking of the building sites and their promises of brave bright futures I put forward the title, future’s future’s future; a future so impossibly distant that one would be forced to see the contradiction, the absurdity and humour of that idealistic longing, dismiss it and get back to the work.
The future has traditionally been the preserve of progress, equality and technological advance, that it isn’t here yet is a set back to ideas about progress that we may harbour. The sharp distinction between what is and what should be is becoming especially clear in these new times of financial stringencies and increased inequality between rich and poor. ( 제레미가 이 문단을 삭제하는 것을 고려중)
Back in Korea which is by no means some sort of Utopia there is a strong sense of optimism for the future, it really is a go ahead society where people work incredibly hard to make their realities happen. Koreans prize education very highly and are prepared to dig deep to pay for it for their children. The artists in this exhibition have come through or are in London art schools seeing them as gateways for their future. I think what this exhibition does is to spot light the contribution young Korean artists are making, not only in financial terms by buying into our education system but also by the fresh set of ideas and influences they bring to enervate art and re-charge the batteries for us all.