A Gentle New Romantic Utopia: ‘New Romantic Society’ Exhibition Backed by Master Lee Geon-yong
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
The 4th ‘Kookmin Ilbo Art Brut Award’ exhibition, curated with support from experimental art master Lee Geon-yong, runs at KCDF Gallery in Seoul’s Jongno district through Feb 8. The award spotlights neurodiverse artists (autism, ADHD), featuring 38 works by 13 artists including grand-prize winner Shim Gyu-cheol’s painting “Goguryeo’s March.” The three-part show rejects boundaries between disability and ability, and imagines a ‘New Romantic Society’ where humans, animals, plants and machines coexist in a tender utopia. A special performance by 19-year-old autistic cellist Lee Jung-hyun—who is a color-hearing synesthete (색청 공감각자)—takes place on Jan 21, followed by a roundtable with the cellist’s father, low-vision visual artist Kim Bo-ra, and Kim Mi-ji, director of the integrated residency “Creation Space Dugu” (창작공간 두구). ‘Art Factory’ live sessions will reveal artists’ processes on later dates. Organizer Son Young-ok says the show aims to dissolve cold standards of “normal” and spread longing for a kinder paradise.
