Yeondoo Jung Explores Korean Diaspora in MMCA Hyundai Motor Series

Yeondoo Jung is the 2023 awardee of the MMCA Hyundai Motor Series, an annual program at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Seoul that supports ambitious new works by Korean artists. His exhibition, 'One Hundred Years of Travels,' focuses on the overlooked history of Korean indentured laborers who sailed to Yucatán, Mexico, in 1905. The show features five works: 'Imaginary Song,' a sound installation with melanin foam leaves and fruits emitting multilingual voices; 'One Hundred Years of Travels – Prologue,' a miniature theatrical stage depicting a Hacienda with a prickly pear colony from Jeju Island; 'Generational Portraits,' LED portraits of Korean-Mexican families; 'One Hundred Years of Travels,' a four-channel video with musicians from Korea, Mexico, and Japan performing to lyrics from a history book; and 'Wall of Blade,' over 300 sugar machetes in paper frames that will melt over six months. Jung's practice spans photography, video, installation, and performance, and he has participated in biennials including Taipei, Venice, Gwangju, Istanbul, and Liverpool. The exhibition runs through February 25 at MMCA Seoul Box.