I’ve had few opportunities to engage with the arts in Korea. That’s something I miss from home and am ecstatic to find abroad. Last weekend I visited the opening of an exhibition at the Gwangju International Center. The three artists-L.A. White (paint on canvas), Sarah Epp (digital drawing/photoshop), and John Mcmartin (ceramics) addressed themes related to interracial relationships, food/health, and modern education’s failure to foster creativity. The artists’ presentations, with Korean and global relevance, were poignant. It was good vibes all around.
I missed the first part of John Mcmartin’s presentation, but gathered it had little to do with his art, and more to do with what art can do. His focus was on the way modern education stifles creativity. He borrowed this from a TED Talk video. Mcmartin quotes Sir Ken Robinson: “If your not prepared to be wrong then you’ll never come up with anything original.” The point: for students to be creative, and ultimately successful, an educator needs to support risk taking as part of the learning process. In light of the many Korean English students who refuse to speak, for fear of being wrong, it is a valid critique. There aren’t many successful people who never took chances. On a related note: John makes some fresh functional art out of clay.
L.A. White, the second speaker, breached her topic by introducing one major influence-a Korean slang that translates “to ride the white horse.” This is slang for a Korean man who fucks a western white woman. Often white woman (especially blonds), in Korea, are thought to be promiscuous and Russian. White rejects both these stereotypes in her work. She is engaged to a Korean man and, from this relationship, has met racism for the first time. Members of her fiance’s family have expressed concern over the prospect of interracial children. “Don’t mix the blood,” a quote from her fiance’s relative, is the inspiration for a number of her 13 pieces. White’s range and style are exceptional. I loved the attention to eyes and texture technique.
Sarah Epp, my first couchsurfing connection in Korea, did an interesting critique of modern society’s perception of food, with a series of photo-shopped trademarks. I was further impressed by her “manufactured solutions for a dying planet” (loved the title) series; photoshopped drawings of animals dawning artificial survival solutions. For example: a polar bear wearing a life jacket was my favorite. The shark with a strap-on fin was cool too. I think they’d make good t-shirts. Sarah got some heated rhetorical questions from an audience member who wanted to expose her ignorance of Korea’s food/farming systems. Another audience member made an apt observation that, despite her lacking knowledge on one aspect of Korea, she was speaking to global issues. This was an interesting example of the clash between local and global perspectives. Too bad I didn’t witness a conclusion in this case, but that’s another topic altogether.
In true Korean fashion there was a ceremony at the end. All the artists got a certificate and there was a big table of food in the center of the room. This would have been my cue to exit if not for the words of Professor Shin Gyong-gu (I think that’s right)-a leading supporter of the group that put together the exhibition. During his closing remarks he energetically thanked all the foreigners in the room (probably 95% of the attendance was foreign English teachers) for “positively contaminating” Korean culture. I often feel that being different threatens or offends some Koreans; at least it doesn’t garner much positive feedback. Receiving praise for my foreign presence was a unique feel-good moment; one that encourages me to spend more time in Korea.
For more info, artists statements, pictures, and other stuff check out:
rostafnk
K.Elizabeth
The Gwangju art center always seems to be relevant. I love the “positive contamination” bit.
Yeh, I thought that was a cool phrase. He also named the prospective interracial child, of White and her fiance, the “lamb of God.” I believe he was referring to the way an interracial child might bridge the gap between ethnic Koreans and foreigners. I thought that was a tad over-the-top, but hopeful nonetheless.
Ross Mordini……. the good bacteria
Like avocado and olive oil; got that good fat.
Hey Bud,
Talk about showin up late in the game. This has been the first posting i have seen, but I gotta tell you that I am enjoying going back and catching up on this blog. It is a great record and I hope we can connect once you are back in the States.
As for this posting, particularily Sarah Epp’s encounter with the audience, Do you know what aspect of the Korean food/farming system she was perceived as being ignorant of? What are the differences? John Mcmartin’s piece sounds very engaging and interesting. How did the audience react? Hope to read more soon, until then you just keep on being that good bacteria.
Thanks cuz. Sarah got heat for not understanding the entire process of Korean farming. It’s ironic cause the province where we live is the center of Korean agriculture. She spent too much time talking about industrial farming practices in America. Understandably, she was pressed for information about Korea’s farming practices; specifically meat production. If you remember, back in 2008, Korea was having riots in response to the import of tainted American beef. Much of Korea’s imported beef comes from Australia, but ol’ Amurica does it for cheaper. Well, that’s since died down, but as a result everyone knows the adjective “crazy,” as in in “crazy cow.”
I think Korea maintains a much more organic approach to beef than most places. It’s the most expensive meat and appears to be raised more organically than the typical American feed lot (which is saying much). From what I’ve seen, in my area, Beef is raised on small farms with perhaps less than 30 head of cattle. Korea is 70% mountains, so the idea of a feed lot or large scale grazing is impossible.
John’s talk was interesting. Amongst the foreign English teachers it’s a common discussion. The Korean education system emphasizes the brain dump method over creativity and critical inquiry. Kids sit in a classroom for 12 hours a day; teachers are supposed to be like omniscient vessels pouring knowledge onto the students. Of course, this isn’t just Korea, but I think it represents an extreme case.
And of course we’ll be seeing each other @ some point. Wish I could be there for the Mercer Lake extravaganza.