The "Korea Artist Prize 2024" exhibition, currently on view at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in central Seoul, offers visitors a vivid and complex exploration of personal and historical narratives through an array of groundbreaking installations. This annual award, established in partnership with the MMCA and the SBS Foundation, continues to celebrate Korean contemporary art by supporting four innovative artists or teams with a 50 million won ($36,000) development grant. This year's finalists, Kwon Ha-youn, Yang Jung-uk, Yoon Ji-young, and Jane Jin Kaisen, each bring to the exhibition a profound understanding of identity, memory, and emotional connection, articulated through highly personalized artistic forms.
Kwon Ha-youn’s work is a deep dive into the past, reenacting forgotten memories through immersive virtual reality. Known for her commitment to retelling narratives often excluded from historical records, Kwon’s VR project "The Guardians of Jade Mountain" transports viewers to Taiwan under Japanese occupation, recounting the friendship between anthropologist Ushinosuke Mori and Aliman, a chieftain of the Bunun people. By focusing on their shared reverence for nature rather than the overarching colonial narrative, Kwon breathes life into nuanced experiences that might otherwise remain overlooked.
Kaisen, a visual artist originally from Jeju Island but adopted to Denmark as an infant, engages deeply with Jeju's layered history and symbolism. In her “Ieodo (Island Beyond the Sea)” series, Kaisen uses seven interconnected films to present a multi-dimensional portrayal of Jeju’s landscape, which is interwoven with memories of ideological conflicts, shamanistic rituals, and stories of endurance. The titular “Ieodo” itself represents a mythical space associated with both hope and loss, a place where shipwrecked souls are believed to journey. Central pieces like “Portal” and “Core” focus on the island’s geological features, such as basalt formations and lava tubes, which are emblematic of the island’s resilience. Surrounding these core works are five other films, each offering a unique perspective from various groups connected to Jeju, including "haenyeo" (female divers), environmentalists, shamans, and anti-military activists.
Yang Jung-uk’s installations bridge the personal and mechanical, using motorized assemblages made from wood, steel, and discarded objects to embody human emotions. In "Someone I Know, in His Garden I’ve Never Seen," Yang illustrates the impact of shared spaces on personal memory, inspired by his wife’s vegetable garden and the memories of a father’s garden from his story. These assemblages, performing ceaseless repetitive motions, evoke a sense of quiet resilience and connection, where objects reflect the presence of those who care for them. Similarly, “A Cherishing Heart” captures an intimate moment between Yang and his estranged father during a family meal, translating his introspective memory into a mechanical form.
Sculptor Yoon Ji-young brings inner experiences into the tangible realm. In “Just, You, One, Face,” she sculpts her face using beeswax phonograph cylinders that previously captured the voices of her friends. Each friend, speaking in their native language, conveyed their feelings towards Yoon, and these vocal imprints were melted to form her likeness. The result is a striking piece that merges invisible voices and emotions into physicality. Another work, “There was a time when not knowing how to live, I took out my entrails to make a net,” reflects Yoon’s psychological struggles through a visceral, net-like curtain that seems to be woven from entrails, symbolizing an attempt to bring forth and entangle her inner turmoil.
Since its inception in 2012, the Korea Artist Prize has fostered creative exploration among mid-career artists, aiming to expand the boundaries of contemporary Korean art. The MMCA and SBS Foundation’s initiative not only supports the development of these works but also ensures that selected artists have a platform to engage with wider audiences. The winner of the prize, who will be announced in February, will receive an additional 10 million won, further affirming the program’s commitment to championing the next generation of thought-provoking artists.
Running until March 23, “Korea Artist Prize 2024” highlights the power of art to reveal hidden dimensions of history and the self. Each piece invites visitors to explore the complexity of memory, identity, and the enduring human spirit, offering a glimpse into the broader cultural landscape of contemporary Korean art.
Sayart / Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com
