4482-2024 'K-Women: Celebrating Female Artists

Artists

K-Women: A Story of Moving

새로운 곳으로의 발걸음

Ever wonder what it is like to move to a whole new country? Many Korean women artists experienced once comforting routines and customs of their homeland, replaced by a sense of alienation and stark isolation amid the bustling energy of the new environment when they moved to the UK or elsewhere. This transition triggered an identity crisis for some, causing them to question the very core of their being.

Through the works of the six artists displayed here, we witness a shared characteristic uprooted from their familiar cultural background mingled with a thrust into their vibrant yet disorienting new world. These artists express a sense of separation and nervous excitement, which they feel from the unfamiliar sights, sounds and social norms they encounter.

Relocation often heightens memories about the past. Some things are longed for, but others are better dismissed. Drifting further from the past may form a new sense of belonging. In new surroundings, losing and finding oneself occurred at the same time. Bearing these agitating transitions, these Korean female artists begin their new journeys.

K-Women: Who Am I

나를 찾아서

The physical act of moving to a new place often leads to self-discovery. The external challenge of migration may develop into an opportunity to explore the inner self. This process involves navigating through complex emotions, which could sometimes be disorientating and confusing.

Artworks presented in this section illustrate four artists’ reflections on inner conflict and moments of doubt as they grapple with a sense of shifting self. Artistic representations of this experience often lean towards abstract expression, but for some, they become concrete visual traces. This journey of reflective practice deepens their awareness of self, interestingly often beyond geographical boundaries.

These Korean female artists search for their place in and between two cultures, blending their past and the present. Their quest for a unified sense of self continues as their fragmented identities begin to piece together

K-Women: Endless Journey

삶의 여정

The search for a place where we truly belong is an endless journey. While we live in the present, we often linger on the past and try to comprehend the unknowable future.

The final part of this exhibition presents five artists’ ongoing voyages to find their connections to the world around them. An intimate relationship with loved ones often plays an important role in this discovery. The artists weave together the threads of their past and present cultures, forming a richer, more nuanced tapestry of self. Their artworks offer a glimpse into their evolving identity as they accept the harmonious coexistence of their homeland’s heritage and newly adopted culture.

After all, the core of this endless journey is belongingness. We cheer these Korean women artists for their efforts to embrace the complexity of human experience and find a place where they belong within it.