Poster image of 《A Place Between Rhythm and Rhythm》 © Choi Man Lin Museum

We often use the word “rhythm” in everyday life. Although it is commonly associated with music, rhythm also exists in the lives of humans, animals, and plants, as reflected in expressions such as “daily rhythm” and “biological rhythm,” as well as in our experiences of space and time. In a sense, rhythm can be found in almost every aspect of the world with which we interact.

This exhibition seeks to explore the various rhythms surrounding the Choi Man Lin Museum. At its foundation are the physical “space” and the “time” that has accumulated within it, accompanied by “two artists” who have created works in response to their sensory experiences of the rhythms of this place.

The Choi Man Lin Museum, a branch of the Seongbuk Museum of Art, is a public art museum converted from the former home and studio where artist Choi Man Lin lived and worked for approximately 30 years. Originally built as a private residence for the family of a banker, the building contains three overlapping layers of history: the life of an ordinary family, the life and practice of the artist Choi Man Lin, and its subsequent transformation into a public art museum.

These historical layers can also be observed in the building's physical structure. The original square-shaped space, its first renovation involving the extension of two sides, and its later transformation into a museum that largely preserved the modified structure all coexist within the building.


Installation view of 《A Place Between Rhythm and Rhythm》 © Choi Man Lin Museum

Jong Oh and Chris Ro developed their works in response to the space and the various rhythms flowing through it. Through repeated visits, they engaged all their senses in experiencing the time and sense of place embedded within the building, creating and installing their works based on these encounters.

Jong Oh installed linear works centered around the wooden ceiling, which has remained part of the building since its original construction, while Chris Ro installed planar works primarily in the area that Choi Man Lin had extended. Their works also occasionally intersected with one another's spaces, resulting in a natural arrangement throughout the museum.

This exhibition offers an opportunity to experience the new rhythms generated through the interpretations of a younger generation of artists, bringing together the space as it existed during Choi Man Lin's artistic career and its subsequent transformation into a museum. With the three artists, the space itself, the time that has flowed through it, and the rhythms of visitors added to the experience, the rhythms emerging among them are expected to become even more diverse.

References