Documentary, Diary, and Dream
Documentary, Diary, and Dream
April 24th - 27th, 2023
MFA Thesis Exhibition
Temple Contemporary, Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
My project, Documentary, Diary, and Dream, delves into the intricate interplay between individual lives and the grand narrative of socioeconomic change. It investigates the profound ties that bind our personal experiences to the historical, political, and socio-economic threads of our times. At the heart of this exploration is my own childhood memory of the 1988 Seoul Olympics—a monumental event that catalyzed a transformative era in post-war Korean society.
In a poignant reimagining of the past, I present a domestic space, an intimate reconstruction of my childhood home, where the shared experience of family life unfolded in a single room. This space is not merely a physical setting but a symbolic crossroads, capturing the dualities of Korean society—the lingering poverty of the post-war era juxtaposed with a fervent collective aspiration towards a brighter future.
Within this recreated domestic sphere, everyday objects take on profound significance. Blankets, a calendar, photographs, and notably, a Joomchi quilt become artifacts within a larger political and global tableau that centers on the pivotal year of 1988. These items are deliberately placed, each telling a story of the time, collectively weaving a tapestry of memory and aspiration.
The ancient Korean craft of Joomchi, with its labor-intensive process of layering and agitating mulberry papers to create a durable new fabric, becomes a powerful metaphor within my work. It embodies the collective tenacity and resilience of a society in flux—a society that, like the Joomchi paper, becomes stronger through its transformations. This traditional technique is elevated to a medium of expression, symbolizing the united fabric of a nation during a time of profound transition.
Through Documentary, Diary, and Dream, I aim to reflect the shared pulse of a community during a significant historical moment, illustrating how deeply personal the political can be, and how the dreams of a society can be woven into the very walls of a home.
