Artist Jeong Chigu is set to present his solo exhibition Drawing in the Wall at Gallery Seogung in Seoul from July 8 to July 27, 2024. This exhibition, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Arts Council Korea, has been selected as part of the 2024 Arts for Children and Youth Program.

Jeong’s work originates from personal experiences of discomfort, dissatisfaction, and anxiety, specifically regarding the transformation of urban environments through redevelopment. He reflects on the rapid changes in his neighborhood—the vanishing alleys, the towering walls that obscure sunsets, and the heavy dump trucks taking over the widened roads. The once lively community, filled with small shops and homes, has been erased under the banner of progress, leaving behind a landscape of displacement and isolation.

Initially, Jeong sought to capture these changes through sculpture, creating outdoor installations that subtly addressed the evolving cityscape. While these sculptures resonated within their environment, they eventually returned to his studio, unable to halt the dust and darkness spreading through his neighborhood. This led him to explore media art, a long-standing aspiration that lacked the necessary motivation—until now. The shift to media-based expression became a revelation, offering an entirely new medium to document and comment on the transformation surrounding him.

One of the key projects within this exhibition is a light performance with children, where young participants, equipped with LED wings, walked through the streets, metaphorically spreading light across their darkened neighborhood. As they moved, their presence created a visual dialogue between innocence and change, evoking both nostalgia and a sense of resistance against the encroaching shadows of redevelopment.

Additionally, projection mapping was utilized to reclaim and illuminate neglected spaces, including the walls of Jangsu Senior Center and construction barriers. Through these interventions, Jeong incorporated children’s drawings and sculptural works, blending them with digital elements to craft a layered narrative of resilience and adaptation.

The exhibition does not merely document change but questions the human cost of redevelopment. While cities expand under the guise of progress, the lives within them are often fragmented and displaced. The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the social implications of urban transformation and the delicate balance between progress and preservation.

As part of his commitment to children and youth-oriented art, Jeong envisions this project as a stepping stone toward broader discussions on community, art, and belonging. He hopes that through this exhibition, children can engage with art not just as observers but as active participants in shaping their narratives within their ever-changing environment.

Sayart / Jason Yim, yimjongho1969@gmail.com