‘Planet Nine’ Exhibition Examines Human and Non-Human Connections
Jason Yim / Published October 25, 2024 06:00 PM
Jason Yim
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of SeMA
The Nam-Seoul Museum of Art is hosting the exhibition ‘Planet Nine’ from July 31 to October 27, 2024. This exhibition, part of the Seoul Museum of Art’s 2024 institutional theme of “connection,” presents 15 works by nine artists, exploring the evolving relationships between humans and non-human entities, such as machines, robots, and natural elements. It invites visitors to rethink their understanding of the world from a broader, non-human-centered perspective.
The exhibition’s title, ‘Planet Nine’, refers to the hypothetical ninth planet beyond the solar system's eight known planets, symbolizing the untapped potential and mysteries beyond human discovery. The works in the exhibition push boundaries by challenging the human-centered systems that have shaped society, encouraging visitors to reconsider the roles and values of non-human actors in shaping the world around us.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of SeMA
Dipesh Chakrabarty’s writings on the distinction between the “global” and the “planetary” serve as an intellectual backbone for the exhibition. His argument that the global age is ending prompts viewers to step away from anthropocentrism and consider a planetary view, where humans are no longer dominant. The exhibition mirrors this thought by highlighting the interconnectedness of all beings, human and non-human, in shaping the planet’s ecosystems.
The exhibition is organized into three parts. Part 1 examines the interaction between machines and humans through works by Bokyung Jun and Changsun Koh. Jun’s work features human dancers mimicking the movements of robots, questioning the essence of human individuality and efficiency. Koh’s installation reacts to the audience’s movements, emphasizing the dynamic relationship between technology and art.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of SeMA
Part 2 shifts to the connections between organic and inorganic beings, with works by Eunji Cho, Haejung Jung, and Moonjung Hwang. Cho’s piece imagines a future world where humans coexist with various species on equal terms, while Jung’s installation blends coral-inspired structures with human elements to break down boundaries between living and non-living. Hwang, through a low-tech approach, reveals the existence of non-human entities hidden within urban landscapes.
Part 3 delves into invisible forces that shape the world, featuring works by Ji Hye Yeom, Mioon, Jung Seung, and Jung Phil Shin. Yeom’s work reflects on the spread of MERS in 2015, focusing on the anxiety and fear surrounding invisible viruses. Mioon presents the sociopolitical context of sports games, while Jung Seung dismantles cars, recreating them with soft materials to question the industrial system’s perception of value. Shin’s work, meanwhile, challenges the viewer’s reliance on vision alone to understand objects, inviting reflection on their deeper meanings.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of SeMA
This exhibition not only highlights the relationships between human and non-human beings but also envisions a future where such entities coexist without hierarchy. The Nam-Seoul Museum of Art provides a historically rich setting for this inquiry, as the building itself once served as the Belgian Consulate during the Korean Empire and is now a designated historical landmark.
In conjunction with the exhibition, the museum offers public programs, including docent tours through the SeMA Docent App and various lectures and artist talks, enabling visitors to engage more deeply with the themes of the exhibition. Admission is free, and detailed information about these programs is available on the museum’s website.
Sayart / Jason Yim, yimjongho1969@gmail.com
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of SeMA
The Nam-Seoul Museum of Art is hosting the exhibition ‘Planet Nine’ from July 31 to October 27, 2024. This exhibition, part of the Seoul Museum of Art’s 2024 institutional theme of “connection,” presents 15 works by nine artists, exploring the evolving relationships between humans and non-human entities, such as machines, robots, and natural elements. It invites visitors to rethink their understanding of the world from a broader, non-human-centered perspective.
The exhibition’s title, ‘Planet Nine’, refers to the hypothetical ninth planet beyond the solar system's eight known planets, symbolizing the untapped potential and mysteries beyond human discovery. The works in the exhibition push boundaries by challenging the human-centered systems that have shaped society, encouraging visitors to reconsider the roles and values of non-human actors in shaping the world around us.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of SeMA
Dipesh Chakrabarty’s writings on the distinction between the “global” and the “planetary” serve as an intellectual backbone for the exhibition. His argument that the global age is ending prompts viewers to step away from anthropocentrism and consider a planetary view, where humans are no longer dominant. The exhibition mirrors this thought by highlighting the interconnectedness of all beings, human and non-human, in shaping the planet’s ecosystems.
The exhibition is organized into three parts. Part 1 examines the interaction between machines and humans through works by Bokyung Jun and Changsun Koh. Jun’s work features human dancers mimicking the movements of robots, questioning the essence of human individuality and efficiency. Koh’s installation reacts to the audience’s movements, emphasizing the dynamic relationship between technology and art.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of SeMA
Part 2 shifts to the connections between organic and inorganic beings, with works by Eunji Cho, Haejung Jung, and Moonjung Hwang. Cho’s piece imagines a future world where humans coexist with various species on equal terms, while Jung’s installation blends coral-inspired structures with human elements to break down boundaries between living and non-living. Hwang, through a low-tech approach, reveals the existence of non-human entities hidden within urban landscapes.
Part 3 delves into invisible forces that shape the world, featuring works by Ji Hye Yeom, Mioon, Jung Seung, and Jung Phil Shin. Yeom’s work reflects on the spread of MERS in 2015, focusing on the anxiety and fear surrounding invisible viruses. Mioon presents the sociopolitical context of sports games, while Jung Seung dismantles cars, recreating them with soft materials to question the industrial system’s perception of value. Shin’s work, meanwhile, challenges the viewer’s reliance on vision alone to understand objects, inviting reflection on their deeper meanings.
The installation view of the exhibition, Courtesy of SeMA
This exhibition not only highlights the relationships between human and non-human beings but also envisions a future where such entities coexist without hierarchy. The Nam-Seoul Museum of Art provides a historically rich setting for this inquiry, as the building itself once served as the Belgian Consulate during the Korean Empire and is now a designated historical landmark.
In conjunction with the exhibition, the museum offers public programs, including docent tours through the SeMA Docent App and various lectures and artist talks, enabling visitors to engage more deeply with the themes of the exhibition. Admission is free, and detailed information about these programs is available on the museum’s website.
