Seoul, July 2015 and August 2015, http://kigoja.net/
Kigoja is very, very small art space in Seoul. On my first visit, I was a bit shocked by its size. But that shock served its purpose and it made me start thinking, what the definition or requirements for an art space are. In the end, the special thing about art is that it can really happen anywhere. No space is too small, and no time to short. In a similar way that after Duchamp anything could be art, and after Beuys anyone could be an artist, the spatial definition of art is actually open as well. Kigoja also doubles as a cactus shop, probably a result of the owner’s hobby as well as an attempt at economic sustenance.
Seunghyuk Park’s박승혁“Untitled (Streched Sink)” was a sculptural object connected to one wall of the space. As the title suggested, it resembled a semi-finished stainless steel kitchen sink, strangely protruding into the space of the room. A kind of surreal storytelling object, a bit like Dali’s melting watches, infused with a minimalist strictness.
Youngmi Kim’s김영미 “Serious Warming-up” was a three-channel video projection (from one narrow throw projector), just fitting wall-to wall in the small space. Next to the projector was one viewing chair and a little lamp for reading the artist statement. The small room, single chair and lamp made it feel link a private viewing room. The video itself showed a group of persons exercising in a part at night, again a slightly surreal feel, as one could see a very common activity, but executed in a strange way, between narrative and non-narrative: A play whose rule remain a mystery.
Both works somehow linked into the surrounding area. With the kitchen sink, I imagined the art space might have been a little street stall selling food before. The exercise video reminded me of the nearby park which I crossed on the way from the subway station.
