Art journal #85: Kim Beom at ArtSonje Center, Seoul

I really should get out more often in Seoul. ArtSonje Center is a fantastic space, quite similar to WhiteChapel, with 3 exhibition floors, an art theatre, and an Indian restuarant inside. The Kim Beom show, about his obsession of contradiction, and "you dont always get what you see", is fascinating.

Particularly like the new works he did, around education, or "influencing" and refusal to accept that more broadly. "Objects being taught they are nothing but tools" has everyday objects sitting in a classroom, being told that they are nothing but tools. It is a criticism of education as a dictatorial and forceful process. The hidden rebellion of the objects, quietly refusing to accept someone else's definition of themselves, is a theme that should resonate immediately in an Asian context, esp in a culture like Korea where there's so much emphasis on education. Other works on the same floor, like "a rock that learned the poetry of Jung Jiyong", "a rock that was taught it was a bird" are intriguing too.

This whole art area is just behind the Blue House, and is 5mins away from Westin. I really should come a lot more often!