When the Sun Is No Longer Bright
Sinheung Creative Space of Public Art Open Studio
When The Sun Is No Longer Bright
June 22nd - 23rd, 2019
Sinheung Creative Space of Public Art, Seongnam, South Korea
In the intricate tapestry of history, every thread of community narrative weaves a unique identity and existence. A community without a recorded history is akin to a shadow, absent in the grand theatre of global narratives, essentially erased from official existence. Such communities linger on the periphery, unrecognized, gradually fading into oblivion, their identities and stories dissolving into the silence of forgotten realms.
In my artistic journey, I aim to illuminate the obscured tales of communities subjected to the historical aftermath of bureaucratic neglect and unrelenting urban development plans. My curated catalog serves as a vigilant custodian of the local narratives and historical essence of the communities, ensuring that their stories echo through the corridors of time, fostering remembrance and recognition.
The heart of this catalog pulses with a vivid chronicle of Seongnam's town, Sinheong-dong—a two-year artistic exploration manifested through a series of evocative prints. These images unfold the saga of a landscape in tumultuous transformation, bearing witness to the disintegration of a community under the weight of ruthless urban development agendas.
Every image is a silent testimony, capturing the poignant residues of ruthless transformation and offering a somber reflection on the obscured chapters of South Korea's modern history. They subtly reveal stories of resilience amidst ruin, symbolizing the unyielding spirits of the inhabitants who breathe life into the crumbling echoes of the town. In their survival, a powerful testament to life's indomitable will and the steadfast vibrancy of communal roots is unveiled.
Through this work, the forgotten realms of Seongnam's town are etched into the collective memory, narrating tales of existence and endurance, ensuring that the echoes of their stories reverberate, preserving their unique identities in the heartbeats of historical continuum.
