Daniel Arsham's 'Seoul 3024: Excavated Future' Exhibition Opens at Lotte Museum
Jason Yim / Published August 7, 2024 09:16 PM
Jason Yim
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of LOTTE Museum of Art Seoul
An extraordinary exhibition set in 31st-century Seoul has opened at the Lotte Museum, showcasing the visionary works of renowned visual artist Daniel Arsham. Titled "Seoul 3024," this exhibition transports visitors a thousand years into the future, presenting a reimagined and excavated Seoul through Arsham's unique lens of fictional archaeology.
Daniel Arsham, known for transcending the boundaries of time, history, and space through his sculpture, painting, architecture, and film, draws significant inspiration from his early experiences in Miami, where he witnessed the aftermath of a hurricane. This experience profoundly influenced his perspective on the impermanence of civilization. A visit to an archaeological site on Easter Island in 2010 further inspired him, leading to the development of his concept of "fictional archaeology." This concept imagines everyday objects and cultural icons as artifacts rediscovered in the distant future, often rendered in geological materials like volcanic ash, calcite, hydrostone, and amethyst.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of LOTTE Museum of Art Seoul
In "Seoul 3024," Arsham showcases over 250 works that reinterpret modern civilization and ancient artifacts through his innovative fictional archaeology. This immersive exhibition spans nine sections, offering a surreal experience that blends past, present, and future. Visitors can explore a post-apocalyptic world, presented through various epochs and cultural icons, all within Arsham's distinctive vision.
The exhibition features a diverse range of works, from reinterpretations of classical sculptures like the Louvre's "Venus of Milo" to contemporary pop culture icons like Pokémon. Highlights include the "Future Relic" series, which imagines everyday objects like phones and cameras as archaeological finds from a future Seoul. The "Excavation Site" installation recreates an archaeological dig where modern artifacts are discovered as ancient relics.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of LOTTE Museum of Art Seoul
Arsham's collaboration with Pokémon is particularly noteworthy. The "Pokemon Garden" section of the exhibition showcases sculptures and drawings created in partnership with Pokémon, as well as an animation titled "A Ripple in Time." This animation, co-created with Pokémon’s original director Kunihiko Yuyama, tells the story of Ash and Pikachu traveling through time to discover crystallized Pokémon sculptures, blending Arsham's fictional archaeology with the beloved world of Pokémon.
Two large-scale paintings, "Athena Helmeted Found in Bukhansan 3024" and "Rome Deified Found in Bukhansan 3024," are being unveiled for the first time. These works depict the mountains of Seoul as the backdrop for mythical figures, blending historical grandeur with futuristic elements. Accompanying these paintings is Arsham’s signature piece, "Excavation Site," which presents a futuristic archaeological dig uncovering everyday items like mobile phones and sneakers as ancient artifacts.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of LOTTE Museum of Art Seoul
The "Sculpture Museum" section delves into classical art history, featuring works inspired by Greek and Roman sculptures. Arsham reinterprets these historical figures using geological materials, adding a layer of fictional history to these iconic pieces. Large-scale paintings in the capriccio style further blend reality and imagination, combining classical ruins with modern-day elements in fantastical landscapes.
The "Archive Studio" section provides a retrospective look at Arsham's career, showcasing his early architectural paintings and his renowned "Future Relic" series. This series, accompanied by a film, presents a science fiction narrative set in a post-apocalyptic future, offering a comprehensive view of Arsham's overarching artistic vision.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of LOTTE Museum of Art Seoul
Arsham's unique approach extends beyond traditional visual art. His collaborations with high-end brands like Tiffany & Co., Dior, Porsche, and Adidas highlight his versatility and ability to blend art with commercial and cultural icons. Additionally, his involvement in architecture through his design firm Snarkitecture, and his ventures into fashion with Objects IV Life, and furniture with Objects for Living, illustrate his multifaceted creativity.
"Seoul 3024" is more than an exhibition; it's an exploration of time and memory, challenging viewers to rethink their perceptions of history and the future. By presenting contemporary objects as future relics, Arsham creates an ambiguous experience where past, present, and future collide. The exhibition invites viewers to reimagine reality and perceive the world through a new temporal lens.
Running until October 13, "Seoul 3024" at Lotte Museum offers an unparalleled opportunity to delve into the imaginative world of Daniel Arsham, where history is reconstructed, and the future is unearthed.
Sayart / Jason Yim, yimjongho1969@gmail.com
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of LOTTE Museum of Art Seoul
An extraordinary exhibition set in 31st-century Seoul has opened at the Lotte Museum, showcasing the visionary works of renowned visual artist Daniel Arsham. Titled "Seoul 3024," this exhibition transports visitors a thousand years into the future, presenting a reimagined and excavated Seoul through Arsham's unique lens of fictional archaeology.
Daniel Arsham, known for transcending the boundaries of time, history, and space through his sculpture, painting, architecture, and film, draws significant inspiration from his early experiences in Miami, where he witnessed the aftermath of a hurricane. This experience profoundly influenced his perspective on the impermanence of civilization. A visit to an archaeological site on Easter Island in 2010 further inspired him, leading to the development of his concept of "fictional archaeology." This concept imagines everyday objects and cultural icons as artifacts rediscovered in the distant future, often rendered in geological materials like volcanic ash, calcite, hydrostone, and amethyst.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of LOTTE Museum of Art Seoul
In "Seoul 3024," Arsham showcases over 250 works that reinterpret modern civilization and ancient artifacts through his innovative fictional archaeology. This immersive exhibition spans nine sections, offering a surreal experience that blends past, present, and future. Visitors can explore a post-apocalyptic world, presented through various epochs and cultural icons, all within Arsham's distinctive vision.
The exhibition features a diverse range of works, from reinterpretations of classical sculptures like the Louvre's "Venus of Milo" to contemporary pop culture icons like Pokémon. Highlights include the "Future Relic" series, which imagines everyday objects like phones and cameras as archaeological finds from a future Seoul. The "Excavation Site" installation recreates an archaeological dig where modern artifacts are discovered as ancient relics.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of LOTTE Museum of Art Seoul
Arsham's collaboration with Pokémon is particularly noteworthy. The "Pokemon Garden" section of the exhibition showcases sculptures and drawings created in partnership with Pokémon, as well as an animation titled "A Ripple in Time." This animation, co-created with Pokémon’s original director Kunihiko Yuyama, tells the story of Ash and Pikachu traveling through time to discover crystallized Pokémon sculptures, blending Arsham's fictional archaeology with the beloved world of Pokémon.
Two large-scale paintings, "Athena Helmeted Found in Bukhansan 3024" and "Rome Deified Found in Bukhansan 3024," are being unveiled for the first time. These works depict the mountains of Seoul as the backdrop for mythical figures, blending historical grandeur with futuristic elements. Accompanying these paintings is Arsham’s signature piece, "Excavation Site," which presents a futuristic archaeological dig uncovering everyday items like mobile phones and sneakers as ancient artifacts.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of LOTTE Museum of Art Seoul
The "Sculpture Museum" section delves into classical art history, featuring works inspired by Greek and Roman sculptures. Arsham reinterprets these historical figures using geological materials, adding a layer of fictional history to these iconic pieces. Large-scale paintings in the capriccio style further blend reality and imagination, combining classical ruins with modern-day elements in fantastical landscapes.
The "Archive Studio" section provides a retrospective look at Arsham's career, showcasing his early architectural paintings and his renowned "Future Relic" series. This series, accompanied by a film, presents a science fiction narrative set in a post-apocalyptic future, offering a comprehensive view of Arsham's overarching artistic vision.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of LOTTE Museum of Art Seoul
Arsham's unique approach extends beyond traditional visual art. His collaborations with high-end brands like Tiffany & Co., Dior, Porsche, and Adidas highlight his versatility and ability to blend art with commercial and cultural icons. Additionally, his involvement in architecture through his design firm Snarkitecture, and his ventures into fashion with Objects IV Life, and furniture with Objects for Living, illustrate his multifaceted creativity.
"Seoul 3024" is more than an exhibition; it's an exploration of time and memory, challenging viewers to rethink their perceptions of history and the future. By presenting contemporary objects as future relics, Arsham creates an ambiguous experience where past, present, and future collide. The exhibition invites viewers to reimagine reality and perceive the world through a new temporal lens.
Running until October 13, "Seoul 3024" at Lotte Museum offers an unparalleled opportunity to delve into the imaginative world of Daniel Arsham, where history is reconstructed, and the future is unearthed.
