Exhibition view of Ji Eun Kim’s Solo Exhibition “Hwaseong/Mars N District/Earth” on View Through December 30, 2023, at the Wumin Art Center, Cheongju, Korea. Photo by Aproject Company.For the 21st Wumin Art Prize recipient, Ji Eun Kim (b. 1977), the development zone feels like it could be a place similar to the planet Mars. The development zone is a location separated from its local history and surrounding environment, existing solely for its function as a new city, much like Mars, where it appears to offer the potential for a new living, though nothing yet exists.
In the Hwaseong/Mars N District/Earth exhibition, the artist sheds light on life in newly developed cities (development zones) and apartment complexes, where a sense of place is removed and functionality is emphasized. The artist particularly examines these urban and everyday spaces within the context of non-places. Modern individuals live within institutionalized spaces, such as land use plans, layouts, and floor plans. These places exist independently of history and context, driven by the logic of efficiency and capital. Through paintings, drawings, photographic collages, and more, the artist reveals the familiar yet unfamiliar aspects of the daily lives of contemporary individuals within these spaces.
The Wumin Art Prize was established in 2002 to promote the cultural and artistic development of the Chungcheongbuk-do region. From 2018, the award provides continuous support for the ongoing creative activities of mid-career artists aged 40 and above.
