THIS IS OUR GUT | 이것이 우리것이여 | The Dependent Group | Art Exhibition

THIS IS OUR GUT | 이것이 우리것이여 | The Dependent Group | Art Exhibition | The Handbag Factory

Рет қаралды 145

Ай бұрын

The first group exhibition of The Dependent Group, [This Is Our Gut/이것이 우리 것이여], is a place for
diagnosing and reflecting on Korean-ness from various angles.
Since the liberalisation of studying abroad in 1981, first-generation Koreans studying abroad, called Yu
Hak Saeng, have achieved successes by adapting various Western arts into Korean styles. However,
since the 2008 global financial crisis, contemporary art has revealed its limitations as its neo-liberal
direction compromised innovation. Consequently, the meaning of studying abroad rapidly transformed
into a course for materialistic pursuits.
What is the self-portrait of Korean international students living in the year 2024? Within the Korean
middle class worldview, we have become like ghosts that merely exist temporarily to obtain a degree.
With the spread of the Korean Wave, the skin of Korean-ness generated by globalisation has been
updated into a passive and closed worldview, forming a Colonialism of the Inner Mind. We have
become hollow beings, unable to leave any meaningful statements or marks behind.

In efforts to break away from such a constraining worldview, The Dependent Group has been engaging
in a variety of workshops - including mind mapping, poetry writing, exhibition visits, art theory studies,
and book readings. The five members have also collaborated on diverse art projects centred around
discourses of identity, tradition, feminism and multiculturalism, alongside their individual works. [This Is
Our Gut/이것이 우리 것이여] serves as both an archive and an exhibition summarising six months of
these collective activities.
The term “Gut” in the title holds dual meaning in Korean - it can signify both the physical digestive
organ, and the more abstract notion of an innate “Thing”. Just as the gut within the body is both
discreet and overt, every element comprising this exhibition embodies The Dependent Group’s Gut/
Thing - their shared sensibilities, creative expressions, and evolving understanding of selfhood and
community. We expose the thin skin constituting Korean-ness through self-disclosure and prepare a
step forward for the future.

디펜던트 그룹의 첫 번째 단체전 [This Is Our Gut/이것이 우리 것이여]는, 한국성(Korean-ness)을 여러 각도로
진단하며 반성하는 자리이다.

1981년 유학 자유화 이후, 1세대 한국인 유학생들은 해외의 예술을 한국 스타일로 번안하여 크고 작은 성취를 이
루었다. 하지만, 2008년 세계금융위기를 기점으로 글로벌 현대 미술은 혁신보다 신자유주의적 타협적 노선을 택
하며 그 한계를 드러내게 된다. 그리고 유학의 의미는 세속적 가치 추구를 위한 코스로 빠르게 전락한다.
그렇다면 2024년을 살아가고 있는 현재 한국인 유학생의 자화상은 어떠한가? K-중산층 세계관 속에서 공회전하
는 우리는 그저 학위를 위해 잠시 존재했다가 떠나는 유령과 같은 존재가 되었다. 한류의 세계화에 의해 생성된 한
국인이라는 스킨은 주체성을 잃은 닫힌 세계관 위로 업데이트 되어 마음 속 식민지를 형성하였다. 우리는 어떠한
발언도 의미도 남기지 못하는 공허한 존재인 것이다.

이러한 세계관에서 벗어나기 위한 노력으로 디펜던트 그룹은 마인드맵, 시 쓰기, 전시 관람, 예술 이론 스터디, 독서
등 다양한 워크샵을 진행해왔다. 다섯 명의 멤버들은 개인 작업과 더불어 정체성, 전통, 페미니즘, 다문화 담론을 중
심으로 다양한 콜라보레이션 작업을 진행했다. [This Is Our Gut/이것이 우리 것이여]은 반년 동안의 활동을 총괄
한 아카이빙이자 전시다.
제목 속 “것/Gut”은 이중의 의미로, 소화 기관을 의미하기도 하고 내재된 “것/Thing”이라는 추상적 개념을 나타내
기도 한다. 인체 내부의 “Gut”은 은밀하다 못해 적나라하다. 이번 전시를 구성하는 모든 요소들은 디펜던트 그룹의
“것”을 체화하고 있다. 우리는 한국성을 이루는 얇은 스킨을 벗겨내고 미래를 위한 한 걸음을 내딛고자 한다.
About Group Member
EunYeong Kim - Majored in English Language and Literature in Korea. After graduation, worked as a
designer at the wholesale clothing market in Seoul, developing an interest in fashion. Studied womenswear at
the London College of Fashion and is currently exploring the possibilities of fashion as an art form.
John Cho - Moved to the UK as a young child. Developed a passion for storytelling and an interest in
animation and popular culture. Graduated with a degree in Illustration Animation from Kingston
University. Currently working as an in-house designer at a company in London.
Jun Young Jang - Dropped out of an industrial design major in Korea. After military service, developed
an interest in fine arts and chose to study in the UK. Graduated with a BA in Fine Art: Painting from UAL
Camberwell. Currently pursuing a MA Fine Art degree at UAL Chelsea.
Soo Kyung Kim - Majored in Eastern Painting in Korea. Chose to study in the UK to explore various
forms of art beyond the traditional framework of Eastern painting. Currently pursuing a MA Fine Art
degree at UAL Chelsea.
YeonWoo Wi - Majored in fine arts in Korea. Chose to study in the UK to experience art in a different
environment. Graduated with a BA in Fine Art: Painting from UAL Camberwell. Currently working as a
teaching assistant at a secondary school in London.
08 - 13 May 2024
The Handbag Factory
London