The Leeum Museum of Art is hosting the latest edition of Art Spectrum, titled "Dream Screen," a major exhibition that showcases works from 26 artists and artist teams from Korea and across Asia. Running until December 29, 2024, the exhibition highlights how the Millennial and Post-Millennial generations experience the world differently through screens—whether through the internet, games, or films—and explores the collective and personal narratives formed through these mediated experiences.

Art Spectrum, historically a platform for emerging Korean artists, has expanded its scope for this iteration to include artists from various Asian cultures, underscoring the diverse influences shaping contemporary art today. This broader vision not only reflects the rapid globalization of the art world but also acknowledges the shifting ways in which artists from the Millennial generation engage with fragmented experiences and the realities constructed through screens.

"Dream Screen" is a term coined to evoke both the fictional nature of dreams and the screen as a mediator of indirect experiences. It refers to a device that facilitates imaginative remnants beyond the screen. This concept is central to the exhibition, as the featured artists explore how modern life is filtered through digital interfaces, reshaping our perception of reality. The exhibition asks how the grand narratives of history and progress have eroded and what has replaced them in a world dominated by fragmented digital experiences.

The exhibition places a particular emphasis on horror, examining how the overwhelming influx of information, sensory overload, and narratives transmitted through screens have shaped contemporary notions of fear. The curated space draws inspiration from the infamous Winchester House in San Jose, California, a sprawling mansion known for its intricate, maze-like design. The house was built by Sarah Winchester, heir to the Winchester rifle fortune, to evade the spirits of those killed by the weapons. Mirroring the unpredictable architecture of this haunted house, the Leeum Museum has constructed a similarly disorienting space within the Black Box and Ground Gallery, allowing visitors to navigate through courtyards, hallways, and more than 20 rooms in an exploration of the works on display.

The architecture of the exhibition space, combined with the thematic focus on horror, underscores the sense of isolation and disorientation that the Millennial generation often experiences. This structure serves as a physical manifestation of the loss of direction in a screen-saturated world, where reality and fiction intermingle, creating a complex emotional landscape. By guiding visitors through this labyrinth of art and architecture, the exhibition mimics the psychological maze many navigate in their daily lives.

Many of the participating artists, including names such as Yun Choi, Sunpil Don, Heecheon Kim, and Vivien Zhang, belong to a generation raised on subcultures, popular media, and the internet. Their works reflect how these influences have shaped their worldviews and artistic practices. Of the 60 works on display, 23 are newly commissioned pieces, premiering at this exhibition. These pieces explore how historical narratives are reinterpreted through a contemporary lens and question how individuals can find connection and community in an era marked by both physical and psychological isolation.

The exhibition encourages visitors to reflect on how screens have reshaped their understanding of reality, how they navigate the overabundance of information, and how fear and uncertainty manifest in a world that feels increasingly fragmented. The experience of walking through the Winchester-inspired maze, combined with the wide variety of artworks from across Asia, presents a multi-layered exploration of what it means to live in a world that is both digitally connected and emotionally isolated.

Sayart / Jason Yim, yimjongho1969@gmail.com