The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of the official Instagram of MMCA
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Cheongju is set to launch its highly anticipated exhibition The Art of Naming on October 11, 2024. The exhibition aims to explore the significance of titles in art, questioning their utility and investigating the creative process behind naming. By categorizing titles that may seem abstruse to viewers, the exhibition invites a deeper reflection on how titles function not merely as descriptive elements but as essential components in the interpretation of a work.
In the realm of visual art, especially contemporary art, titles play a unique and direct role in influencing how a piece is understood. While titles in other genres may serve a functional or explanatory purpose, in contemporary art, they often embrace ambiguity, encouraging viewers to engage in philosophical reflection. The title becomes more than just a label—it becomes a bridge between the artist, the work, and the audience, guiding yet challenging the viewer’s understanding.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of the official Instagram of MMCA
The exhibition focuses on three primary categories of titles: untitled works, symbol-based titles, and sentence-based titles. By presenting these categories, the exhibition examines how titles have evolved across periods and mediums and how they function as artistic tools. Untitled works offer freedom in interpretation, symbolic titles convey layered meanings, and sentence-based titles provide more explicit guidance while still leaving room for diverse readings.
One of the most engaging aspects of the exhibition is the interactive program Name Game, where visitors can actively participate by renaming the works on display. This program encourages viewers to step into the shoes of the artist, offering their own interpretations and understanding of the pieces. By changing the title, participants experience firsthand how titles shape and expand the narrative of the artwork, allowing for a deeper and more personal engagement with the pieces.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of the official Instagram of MMCA
The Art of Naming underscores the role of titles as not merely ancillary information but as key elements that inform how an artwork is perceived and understood. The MMCA also emphasizes the museum’s responsibility in systematically managing and curating its vast collection, which includes over 10,000 works. The proper organization of titles, materials, and dimensions is vital in making art accessible to the public, and this exhibition highlights the importance of this process.
In showcasing a diverse range of artists—such as KIM Whanki, Barbara KRUGER, and Tomas SARACENO—the exhibition offers a broad spectrum of approaches to the use of titles. These artists explore the function of titles in various ways, either reinforcing the meaning of the work or deliberately creating ambiguity to provoke thought and imagination in the viewer.
Running until February 23, 2025, the exhibition provides a unique opportunity for visitors to reconsider the relationship between artworks and their titles. By engaging with the art through the lens of its title, viewers will gain a deeper appreciation for the complex interplay between naming, interpretation, and artistic creation.
The poster of the exhibition, Courtesy of MMCA
Sayart / Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of the official Instagram of MMCA
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Cheongju is set to launch its highly anticipated exhibition The Art of Naming on October 11, 2024. The exhibition aims to explore the significance of titles in art, questioning their utility and investigating the creative process behind naming. By categorizing titles that may seem abstruse to viewers, the exhibition invites a deeper reflection on how titles function not merely as descriptive elements but as essential components in the interpretation of a work.
In the realm of visual art, especially contemporary art, titles play a unique and direct role in influencing how a piece is understood. While titles in other genres may serve a functional or explanatory purpose, in contemporary art, they often embrace ambiguity, encouraging viewers to engage in philosophical reflection. The title becomes more than just a label—it becomes a bridge between the artist, the work, and the audience, guiding yet challenging the viewer’s understanding.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of the official Instagram of MMCA
The exhibition focuses on three primary categories of titles: untitled works, symbol-based titles, and sentence-based titles. By presenting these categories, the exhibition examines how titles have evolved across periods and mediums and how they function as artistic tools. Untitled works offer freedom in interpretation, symbolic titles convey layered meanings, and sentence-based titles provide more explicit guidance while still leaving room for diverse readings.
One of the most engaging aspects of the exhibition is the interactive program Name Game, where visitors can actively participate by renaming the works on display. This program encourages viewers to step into the shoes of the artist, offering their own interpretations and understanding of the pieces. By changing the title, participants experience firsthand how titles shape and expand the narrative of the artwork, allowing for a deeper and more personal engagement with the pieces.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of the official Instagram of MMCA
The Art of Naming underscores the role of titles as not merely ancillary information but as key elements that inform how an artwork is perceived and understood. The MMCA also emphasizes the museum’s responsibility in systematically managing and curating its vast collection, which includes over 10,000 works. The proper organization of titles, materials, and dimensions is vital in making art accessible to the public, and this exhibition highlights the importance of this process.
In showcasing a diverse range of artists—such as KIM Whanki, Barbara KRUGER, and Tomas SARACENO—the exhibition offers a broad spectrum of approaches to the use of titles. These artists explore the function of titles in various ways, either reinforcing the meaning of the work or deliberately creating ambiguity to provoke thought and imagination in the viewer.
Running until February 23, 2025, the exhibition provides a unique opportunity for visitors to reconsider the relationship between artworks and their titles. By engaging with the art through the lens of its title, viewers will gain a deeper appreciation for the complex interplay between naming, interpretation, and artistic creation.
