Installation view of “Forms of the Shadow” at Secession in 2024 ©Secession. Photo: Iris Ranzinger

“Forms of the Shadow”, curated by Sunjung Kim, the Artistic Director of the Art Sonje Center, is on view at the Vienna Secession and the Korean Cultural Centre Austria from September 20 to November 17. “Forms of the Shadow” is the first large-scale presentation of Korean contemporary art in Vienna, Austria.
 
This exhibition explores the contemporary shadows cast by the global pandemic, climate crisis, and geopolitical tensions. The works of leading Korean artists Lee Bul, Haegue Yang, Kyungah Ham, Moon Kyungwon & Jeon Joonho, Minouk Lim, Jin-me Yoon, and Young In Hong raise questions about the complex layers of human existence that navigate these turbulent times and to consider the intricate interconnectedness of our world.

Installation view of “Forms of the Shadow” at Korean Cultural Centre Austria in 2024 ©Secession. Photo: Iris Ranzinger

The exhibition is divided into three main sections. The first explores the complexities of human-made boundaries and geopolitical tensions, centered around Korea's Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The second section reveals tragic and uncomfortable truths about life and death through physical, social, and metaphorical death.
 
The final group, titled "Undo Planet," highlights nature reclaiming life from human intrusion, examining the relationship between nature and humanity from various perspectives. It focuses on the habitats of non-human beings, such as plants and animals, and their coexistence with humans.

Installation view of “Forms of the Shadow” at Secession in 2024 ©Secession. Photo: Iris Ranzinger

Featuring: Nilbar Güreş; Ramin Haerizadeh, Rokni Haerizadeh and Hesam Rahmanian; Kyungah Ham; Young In Hong; ikkibawiKrrr; Jane Jin Kaisen; Joon Kim; Lee Bul; Lee Kit; Mikael Levin; Minouk Lim; Moon Kyungwon & Jeon Joonho; Adrián Villar Rojas; Ramiro Wong; Haegue Yang; Tomoko Yoneda; Jin-me Yoon; Min Yoon

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