Hayoun Kwon's DMZ-Inspired Works Explore Geopolitical Imaginary and Propaganda
Hayoun Kwon's art explores the Korean Demilitarized Zone, established in 1953 and filled with over a million landmines. In her 2015 work, "489 Années," she highlights the daunting 489 years it could take to clear these mines, using a combination of digital projections, virtual reality, and audio recordings from Mr. Kim, a former South Korean soldier. Another significant piece, "Village modèle," created in 2014, is a transparent plastic model of a North Korean propaganda village, accompanied by a film that plays with light and shadow. Kwon's exhibition, curated by Francette Pacteau, was displayed at the Centre d’Art et de Photographie de Lectoure in the summer of 2016. Based in Paris, she received the Prize of the Friends of Palais de Tokyo in 2015 and has an extensive exhibition background.
Key facts
- Hayoun Kwon's work focuses on the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), established in 1953.
- The DMZ contains over one million antipersonnel mines, with an estimated 489 years needed for clearance.
- Kwon's 2015 piece 489 Années is a single-screen digital projection available in a virtual-reality version.
- The artwork includes audio from former South Korean soldier Mr. Kim describing a night patrol.
- A videogame-environment designer created a computer simulation of the DMZ ecosystem for the piece.
- Village modèle (2014) is a maquette of a North Korean propaganda village made of transparent plastic.
- Kwon's exhibition 489 Années was held at the Centre d’Art et de Photographie de Lectoure in summer 2016.
- Kwon won the Prize of the Friends of Palais de Tokyo in 2015 and is based in Paris.
Entities
Artists
- Hayoun Kwon
- Francette Pacteau
- Michel de Montaigne
Institutions
- Centre d’Art et de Photographie de Lectoure
- Palais de Tokyo
- Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
- San Sebastian Film Festival
- ArtReview
- K11 Art Foundation
Locations
- Lectoure
- France
- North Korea
- South Korea
- Paris
- Berkeley
- San Sebastian