The exhibition title Into Other Rivers draws inspiration from the famous saying by the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus (BCE 535–475), ‘one never steps into the same river twice.’ It underscores the point that records are not permanent―rather, they represent a process of interacting with today’s awareness as we read and perceive them. The exhibition consists of three sections, based on a detailed approach to incidents and objects and their multi-dimensional relationships. “Deferred Memory” presents artwork that turns a contemporary perspective on Korea’s modern and contemporary history and the suppressed community histories within. In connection with this, it displays archival materials associated with the Korea Democracy Foundation and the Korea Queer Archive Queerarch. “Witnessed Record” presents archival materials from the Jeju 4·3 Peace Foundation and the Art Archives, Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA AA) which concern the history of the Jeju 4·3 and the Japanese military “comfort women.” The section also features artwork that creates a space of affect based on meticulous documentation of these histories. “Projected Narrative” presents work that is rooted in real-world issues and archives while constructing new narratives in those spaces of absence. In the process, it liberates realms that have hitherto been obscured by prevailing social ideas, boundaries, and fragmented discourse.
June 4, 2025
