Multimedia exhibition in Kingston celebrates Korean female artists

By Raul Rizzato, November 22 2024.

Art-lovers can enjoy new multimedia exhibition showcasing Korean female artists at the Kingston Museum, opening on November 22 and ending on March 8, the International Women's Day.

The Korean art group 4482 [SASAPARI] is featuring the work of 17 Korean female artists exploring visual narratives through paintings, videos, sculptures, photographs, ceramics, and performance art in the exhibition titled K-Women: Celebrating Korean Female Artists.

Seoyoung Kim, curator of the Kingston Museum and senior curator at 4482 [SASAPARI], said: “This exhibition delves into the captivating world of Korean female artists, showcasing their art world and experiences of displacement, settlement, and the ever-evolving exploration of their identities."

It is more than just an artistic showcase. It is an invitation to dialogue that focuses on women’s voices. It prompts visitors to consider the complexities of identity, the challenges of displacement, and the unwavering spirit of human connection.”

The exhibition highlights contemporary Korean art and the emotional background of the artists, often associated with heritage, migration, resettlement, cultural dissonance and the search for belonging. At the same time, acts to strengthen the artistic connection between South Korea and the UK, as Kingston is home to the largest Korean community in Europe.

Kim said: “The exhibition marks the diverse cultures and prominent presence of the Korean community in the borough. More importantly, it celebrates female creativity, to which Kingston Museum is committed. In collaboration with the museum, the exhibition is curated by 4482 [SASAPARI], whose members are all women."

Min Kim, a photographer and Kingston University alumnus who is presenting her work in the exhibition, said: “My work revolves around challenging conventional perspectives through the creation of enigmatic images. In my artistic expression, the relationship between humanity and the built environment is a central motif. This series captures the intersection of individuals with both urban and personal spaces, symbolising the complexity of adaptation and resilience with change and displacement. By utilising people as mediators in my work, I strive to depict ambiguous movements and changes, injecting a sense of mockery into everyday life, and posing philosophical questions.”

The exhibition also features artworks from the collections of the Kingston Museum and the Dorich House Museum, Kingston University.

Chunyun Diao from China, a media student at KU, who has also studied Fashion in Japan, said: "I am very intrigued and excited to go see the exhibition, both as a female media student as well as a Fashion graduate. Also, I have visited South Korea, and I am quite familiar with Korean culture and society after living in the multicultural Tokyo, where I had opportunity to connect with many Koreans. I may even go back to Japan to try developing my career. The exhibition sounds really interesting and engaging, I am very curious about the artists and what will be displayed. I am expecting to see creative new ideas and thought-provoking art pieces to inspire my own projects."

The exhibition is free admission and opens to the public from Thursdays to Saturdays, 10am to 5pm — November 22 to March 8.

Published at:
The River Newspaper – November 22 2024, page 14.

(Credits: videos & photos by Raul Rizzato.)
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Sunnu Rebecca Choi and Min Kim are both KU alumni showcasing their artwork in the exhibition K-Women: Celebrating Korean Female Artists at the Kingston Museum. They spoke with The River about their work and connection to Kingston.

Dr Geesun Hahn, one of the curators, also spoke with The River and told us what the public can expect to see when visiting the exhibition.