An Gayoung, KIN in the shelter, 2021, Video game (using unity engine), 1 projection screen, mouse, Playtime 15-480min. ©An Gayoung

Seongbuk Children’s Museum Kkumjaram, a branch of Seongbuk Museum of Art, is the first public children’s art museum established by a district in Seoul. While primarily designed for children, Kkumjaram aims to be an inclusive space for all, welcoming families and diverse groups to engage in shared experiences and discover collective value. With each exhibition, Kkumjaram continues its effort to connect socially relevant issues to the field of art. Following its 2020 ecological exhibition 《DMZ: Ddururu Jjupyujjupyu》, the museum presents 《Iridium Age: Making New KIN》 in the first half of 2021.

The exhibition title borrows from “iridium,” a rare metal used in LEDs—the core components of digital devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs, and flat-screen TVs. The term “Iridium Age” symbolically encapsulates the digital-based virtual world and serves as a metaphor for the new world we are already inhabiting. The exhibition reflects the chaotic state of the present "metaverse" era, where virtuality and reality are being rapidly and irreversibly entangled, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The subtitle “Making New KIN” refers to the increasing entanglement of humans and technology, which has blurred the boundary between human and non-human entities. As a result, the traditional concept of kinship—defined through marriage and blood ties—faces inevitable redefinition. These ideas draw from the works of biologist, scientist, and feminist Donna Haraway, particularly her influential writings, A Cyborg Manifesto (1985) and The Companion Species Manifesto (2003). Her concepts underpin both the exhibition's thematic core and An Gayoung’s artwork KIN in the shelter.

The exhibition showcases a number of An Gayoung’s works based on virtual environments and game art, including video, installation, and interactive game-based works. Through these works, along with related workshops, visitors are invited to explore the fundamental question: “With whom will I live in this chaotic era?” This question expands into others such as “Who am I?” and “What are the conditions that influence my choices?”—prompting philosophical and existential reflection.

The artist encourages viewers to reconsider definitions of "kinship" beyond traditional binaries such as human/non-human or likable/unlikable. By providing a virtual space where coexistence with unfamiliar or even alien entities can be imagined, An invites visitors to experience new philosophical frameworks. The exhibition offers an opportunity to confront and contemplate the unprecedented philosophical challenges of our transitional era.

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