MMCA Residency Changdong Explores the Aesthetics of 'Gathering' in 2024 Report Exhibition
Jason Yim / Published November 26, 2024 01:09 AM
Jason Yim
Unmake Lab, Portrait, 2024, wildlife trailcam dataset, machine learning, printed photographs, dime, Courtesy of MMCA Korea
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) is hosting MMCA Residency Changdong Report 2024: On Gathering from November 22 to December 1. This exhibition features nine artists and collectives from six countries, including Korean participants Unmake Lab, Lee Je, and Jung Choul Gue, alongside international artists Ulla Hvejsel (Denmark), Līga Spunde (Latvia), Maria Pop Timaru (Romania), Kristine Krauze Slucka (Latvia), Ni Hao (Canada/Taiwan), and Camilla Alberti (Italy). Together, these creators examine the intricate interplay between individual narratives and collective history through the act of “gathering.”
The exhibition positions “gathering” as a conceptual lens through which artists uncover hidden dimensions of reality and reconfigure them into new narratives. These works challenge the viewer to see beyond fragmented records, proposing instead a network of interconnected stories that form the basis of a more holistic understanding of the world. In doing so, the exhibition invites audiences to explore the intersections and circulations of ideas, materials, and perspectives, breaking free from geopolitical constraints and envisioning an expanded contemporary outlook.
Ulla Hvejsel, If you save it, it becomes poop, both above and beyond the toilet, audiowalk and two, Courtesy of MMCA Korea
Each piece in the exhibition serves as a testament to the transformative power of artistic inquiry. From installations to sculptures and video works, the curated selection showcases over ten pieces that blend local specificity with universal themes. The artists employ diverse methodologies to reflect on time, place, and human experience, creating a rich tapestry of interpretations that challenge conventional notions of art as static or isolated. Instead, their works highlight the dynamic and iterative nature of gathering as both a physical and intellectual process.
Among the standout contributors is Ulla Hvejsel, whose residency work delves into the overlooked value of waste. Her performance, Above and Beyond the Toilet, incorporates a lecture on digestion as a metaphor for value transformation, followed by a sound performance created in collaboration with the experimental music group Vandaal. This bold exploration of human bodily processes reframes mundane activities such as eating, drinking, and excretion as sources of artistic and philosophical reflection.
Leeje, We gather to draw, two-channel video, color, sound, 30min, Courtesy of MMCA Korea
The accompanying Open Studio event offers visitors an opportunity to engage directly with the creative processes of the participating artists. By showcasing works in progress and facilitating dialogues between artists and audiences, the residency underscores its commitment to fostering transparency and collaboration. Additionally, Hvejsel’s If You Save It, It Becomes Poop audio walk invites participants to reimagine public toilets as sites of economic and cultural value, challenging traditional perceptions of waste and utility in urban environments.
The exhibition underscores MMCA Residency Changdong’s role as a crucible for experimentation and cross-cultural dialogue. By bringing together artists from diverse backgrounds, the residency creates a platform for critical engagement with contemporary issues, ranging from environmental sustainability to the geopolitics of place-making. This year’s theme of “gathering” encapsulates the residency’s ethos of bridging individual creativity with collective consciousness, fostering a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness that defines our world.
Kristine Krauze Slucka, MAPPING TENSIONS: CARTOGRAPHY OF DISTORTED BOUNDARIES, 2024, Silver Gelati, Courtesy of MMCA Korea
The contributions of international artists such as Līga Spunde and Maria Pop Timaru further enrich the discourse by introducing perspectives shaped by their cultural contexts. Their works resonate with those of their Korean counterparts, highlighting shared concerns while celebrating diversity in approach and execution. This cross-pollination of ideas exemplifies the global reach and relevance of the residency program, positioning it as a leader in contemporary art practice.
As the 2024 edition of the MMCA Residency Changdong Report draws to a close, it leaves a lasting impression of the transformative potential of art to question, connect, and reimagine. The exhibition not only highlights the enduring value of artistic collaboration but also offers a glimpse into the future of contemporary art, where boundaries blur, and new possibilities emerge.
The poster of the exhibition, Courtesy of MMCA Korea
Sayart / Jason Yim, yimjongho1969@gmail.com
Unmake Lab, Portrait, 2024, wildlife trailcam dataset, machine learning, printed photographs, dime, Courtesy of MMCA Korea
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) is hosting MMCA Residency Changdong Report 2024: On Gathering from November 22 to December 1. This exhibition features nine artists and collectives from six countries, including Korean participants Unmake Lab, Lee Je, and Jung Choul Gue, alongside international artists Ulla Hvejsel (Denmark), Līga Spunde (Latvia), Maria Pop Timaru (Romania), Kristine Krauze Slucka (Latvia), Ni Hao (Canada/Taiwan), and Camilla Alberti (Italy). Together, these creators examine the intricate interplay between individual narratives and collective history through the act of “gathering.”
The exhibition positions “gathering” as a conceptual lens through which artists uncover hidden dimensions of reality and reconfigure them into new narratives. These works challenge the viewer to see beyond fragmented records, proposing instead a network of interconnected stories that form the basis of a more holistic understanding of the world. In doing so, the exhibition invites audiences to explore the intersections and circulations of ideas, materials, and perspectives, breaking free from geopolitical constraints and envisioning an expanded contemporary outlook.
Ulla Hvejsel, If you save it, it becomes poop, both above and beyond the toilet, audiowalk and two, Courtesy of MMCA Korea
Each piece in the exhibition serves as a testament to the transformative power of artistic inquiry. From installations to sculptures and video works, the curated selection showcases over ten pieces that blend local specificity with universal themes. The artists employ diverse methodologies to reflect on time, place, and human experience, creating a rich tapestry of interpretations that challenge conventional notions of art as static or isolated. Instead, their works highlight the dynamic and iterative nature of gathering as both a physical and intellectual process.
Among the standout contributors is Ulla Hvejsel, whose residency work delves into the overlooked value of waste. Her performance, Above and Beyond the Toilet, incorporates a lecture on digestion as a metaphor for value transformation, followed by a sound performance created in collaboration with the experimental music group Vandaal. This bold exploration of human bodily processes reframes mundane activities such as eating, drinking, and excretion as sources of artistic and philosophical reflection.
Leeje, We gather to draw, two-channel video, color, sound, 30min, Courtesy of MMCA Korea
The accompanying Open Studio event offers visitors an opportunity to engage directly with the creative processes of the participating artists. By showcasing works in progress and facilitating dialogues between artists and audiences, the residency underscores its commitment to fostering transparency and collaboration. Additionally, Hvejsel’s If You Save It, It Becomes Poop audio walk invites participants to reimagine public toilets as sites of economic and cultural value, challenging traditional perceptions of waste and utility in urban environments.
The exhibition underscores MMCA Residency Changdong’s role as a crucible for experimentation and cross-cultural dialogue. By bringing together artists from diverse backgrounds, the residency creates a platform for critical engagement with contemporary issues, ranging from environmental sustainability to the geopolitics of place-making. This year’s theme of “gathering” encapsulates the residency’s ethos of bridging individual creativity with collective consciousness, fostering a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness that defines our world.
Kristine Krauze Slucka, MAPPING TENSIONS: CARTOGRAPHY OF DISTORTED BOUNDARIES, 2024, Silver Gelati, Courtesy of MMCA Korea
The contributions of international artists such as Līga Spunde and Maria Pop Timaru further enrich the discourse by introducing perspectives shaped by their cultural contexts. Their works resonate with those of their Korean counterparts, highlighting shared concerns while celebrating diversity in approach and execution. This cross-pollination of ideas exemplifies the global reach and relevance of the residency program, positioning it as a leader in contemporary art practice.
As the 2024 edition of the MMCA Residency Changdong Report draws to a close, it leaves a lasting impression of the transformative potential of art to question, connect, and reimagine. The exhibition not only highlights the enduring value of artistic collaboration but also offers a glimpse into the future of contemporary art, where boundaries blur, and new possibilities emerge.
The poster of the exhibition, Courtesy of MMCA Korea
