The
title of the exhibition, 《Spirit shackle》, is derived from a technique used in the game "Pokémon,"
which effectively restricts the opponent’s core movements during battle. This
technique’s name, which implies restricting the opponent’s actions, aligns with
the way the appreciation of artworks in this exhibition also unfolds within
specific limitations.
Additionally, the title hints at the potential impact the
exhibition may have on the viewer's behavior. Even if not directly linked to
the game, the title carries an ambition to physically stitch shadows together,
challenging the idea of shadows being inseparably tied to their owners.
Would
the stitched shadow, in turn, start to influence its master’s movements, or
would it become separated from the owner, drifting like contemporary images
detached from their context? Either way, the concept of stitching shadows in
this exhibition is also linked to the act of the painter who, by projecting
their inner sentiments onto the virtual space of the canvas, expands the
physical engagement from limitation to liberation. In this way, the stitched
shadow leaves room for alternative perspectives.
Just
as a mundane scene transformed into a special landscape painting through the
painter's unique gaze, the power of painting lies in its ability to make the
same thing appear differently. Despite the advent of photography and other
technological innovations that seemed to mark the end of painting, it has
endured and continues to thrive even today. This exhibition begins with the
repeatedly asked question: "Why and how does painting still exist in the
contemporary context of 2021?"
Focusing
on painting’s power to make us see differently, this exhibition treats the act
of creating paintings as a form of "spirit shackle"—a way of
stitching shadows. It also reflects on the primal act of seeing itself, which
precedes creation. Just as painting has the power to alter perception, the way
viewers see the world inherently carries countless contexts and perspectives
that allow for diverse interpretations. Building on this premise, the
exhibition seeks to intervene in how the audience perceives and views the
works.
Participating Artists: Kyungho
Koh, Minsu Kim, Jihyun Kim, Sunghoon Kim, Jeman Seo, Taewon Ahn
