The Korean Cultural Center in
France (Director: Lee Ilyeol) will host the group exhibition Ordinary World,
featuring artists selected through a contemporary art open call, from Thursday,
November 7, 2024, to Saturday, February 8, 2025.
Jointly organized by the Korean
Cultural Centers in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, the open call was
held in 2023 under the theme of Ordinary World amid a time of confusion and
uncertainty. Five artists were selected: Korean artists Yang-ha, Shin Jungkyun,
Park Jiyoon, and Kwon Inkyeong, alongside Miguel Rozas Balboa, a Chilean-born
artist based in Belgium. Following its presentation in Berlin and London, the
exhibition will open at the Korean Cultural Center in Paris on November 7.
The theme ‘Ordinary World’ was
chosen to explore our collective stance in an era where crisis has become
normalized in the wake of the pandemic, ongoing climate emergencies, and
various global disasters. The exhibition reflects on how the idea of
“normalcy”—constantly reshaped across eras—relates to both the everyday and the
exceptional, and presents works by contemporary artists who respond to this
tension.
Yang-ha’s work draws inspiration
from the 2020 destruction of the inter-Korean liaison office. The artist
collects and reconstructs contradictory elements of history and religion,
embedding them within her paintings. By interpreting the explosion through soft
forms and rendering it in simplified brushwork and dark tones, she offers a
critique of society.
Shin Jungkyun weaves narratives
that cross the boundary between reality and fiction through fake documentaries
based on real events. His works raise questions about the relationship between
individuals and collectives, reexamining the line between truth and fabrication
while reflecting on the instability of our future.
Miguel Rozas Balboa, a
Chilean-Belgian visual artist, observes the world around us closely to uncover
moments of extraordinariness in everyday life. His video works capture
unfamiliar beauty and diverse human experiences in non-typical settings,
revealing the subtle depth of human existence.
Park Jiyoon presents nonfiction
films that capture unfamiliar and exceptional moments within daily life,
reframing them in poetic contexts. Her approach offers a non-conventional
perspective on the world, blurring the line between the ordinary and the
extraordinary, and creating a reflective space for the viewer.
Kwon Inkyeong illuminates the
tension between the ever-changing external environment and the personal,
internal space of “home,” portraying surreal landscapes where different
dimensions coexist. She describes her process as one of constructing personal
space, forming identity, and exploring memory and thought as tools for
self-discovery.
The diverse artistic practices of
these five artists offer a lens through which to reflect on contemporary life
and reconsider what we perceive as “ordinary.”
