The highly anticipated solo exhibition of Korean contemporary artist Lee Wan titled Random Access Memory 3: Records and Memories has opened at the historic Woonkyung Residence in Seoul. Running from September 3 to October 27, 2024, this exhibition is supported by the Arts Council Korea and the Woonkyung Foundation. Lee Wan, internationally recognized since representing South Korea at the 2017 Venice Biennale, continues his exploration of the relationships between capitalism, human labor, and art.

This exhibition marks the final chapter of Lee’s Random Access Memory series, which began in 2022. It investigates the impact of technological progress on human memory and the concept of recording. The exhibition bridges the past and present by positioning the historical Woonkyung Residence as a metaphorical RAM (Random Access Memory), showing how human memories are stored and reinterpreted through time.

One of the centerpiece works, The Bookshelf of Records and Memories, combines documents from the life of Lee Jae-hyung, the influential historical figure who once resided at Woonkyung, with materials collected by Lee Wan himself. Additionally, his sculptural series featuring birds serves as a symbolic medium transcending time and space, connecting the past, present, and future.

The exhibition also incorporates AI technology in works like Good Questions from the Talk Show, where AI processes historical records to generate new meanings. Through this, Lee examines how technological advancement shapes the preservation of information and the future interpretation of human life.

A range of collaborative programs accompany the exhibition. Choreographer Lee Jae-Yoon and sound artist Kim Young-seon present a performance titled With the Body, offering an immersive connection to the historic space through music and movement. Additional lectures and performances further enrich the exhibition experience.

Ultimately, Lee Wan’s exhibition encourages deep reflection on how our records and memories shape our future and the evolving relationship between technology, humanity, and art. This exhibition is not just an artistic display, but an intellectual exploration into how memory serves as the foundation of our collective future.

Sayart / Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com