New Romantic Society: Blurring Disability Boundaries and Human-Machine Coexistence
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
The 4th Kookmin Ilbo Arbrut (Arbrut Art Award) winners’ exhibition “New Romantic Society” opens Jan 14 at KCDF Gallery in Insadong, Seoul. Inspired by grand-prize winner Shim Gyu-cheol’s multi-panel work “Paris and the Things I Loved” (depicting a 19th-century Paris where disabled and non-disabled people and machines coexist), the show presents 38 works by 13 awardees across painting and ceramics. The exhibition is organized into three sections: “Strange,” featuring surreal scenes that challenge reality and norms; “Affectionate,” which captures everyday camaraderie and warmth; and “Beautiful,” focusing on memory-driven landscapes. Shim’s pieces imagine a utopia without hierarchies between disabled and non-disabled people and include scenes of humans, animals, and robots dining and working together. Related events include a roundtable and performance by a character of an autistic cellist from Park Chan-wook’s noted film, talks about low-vision artists and integrated residencies, and interactive Art Factory sessions with the artists. The show runs through Feb 8.
