Exhibition Information

			Things that slide down the borders | Kaweon KIM

The languages exist somewhere between you and me,
and the border between the intangible memories and my void.
sloping on that Border, but wishing to be permeated and crossed,
so perceivable, and yet impalpable, Phantom Border

The artist Hankyeol KIM exists as ‘Hankyeol KIM’, and as ‘Cecilia KIM’ at the same time. I, the writer, would like to refer to her as ‘the artist’ or ‘she1’, instead of her name in ‘a certain language2’, here in the preface of her exhibition. However fastidious these precautious thoughts and measures may seem, one would realize their gravity once they take into account KIM’s focus in the exhibition.

KIM deals with the “linguistic” barrier and invisible “borders” in this exhibition, among the subjects she experiences “as a female Asian artist-filmmaker3”. Some may consider KIM’s choice of subject too obvious for someone who has lived and experienced cultures from more than one country. But the moment one thinks “that’s typical for who lives abroad,” he/she falls into a trap that KIM never designed. Because the misconception of using the ‘same language in ‘a common culture’ is what confines us the most, to the barrier of language and lose the things that slip and slide through the gaps between “languages”. In this exhibition, the ideas that cannot be seized by “languages”, “conventions”, “memories”, and “time” await us, filling the gallery space and crossing between borders.

The “Borders” take a “Phantom” form and “welcome” us (Translator’s Note: A Korean wordplay: Phantom and Welcome are pronounced alike).  Inside the entrancing videos, someone’s voice, and silent subtitles, these ‘Borders’ exist as invisible ‘Phantoms’. At the same time, they become transparent screens that separate inside and out, like a mosquito net, “welcoming” us in the space. Of utmost importance is that KIM is welcoming us, instead of setting up solid barriers. Borrowing Kim’s words, they permeate each other through osmosis4.

footnote
1 KIM is referred to as ‘she’, as per KIM’s introduction of herself ‘as a female’.
2 Korean and English will be paralleled in descriptions preserve contexts from both languages.
3 Direct quotation from KIM’s introduction. (Prime lexis used by KIM in the interview are specifically notated within “”).
4 Bio-chemistry term.  (i.e.) Water passes into the roots of a plant by osmosis.