Installation view
of “A Straggling Bird” ©ONE AND J. GalleryONE AND J. Gallery presents a group
exhibition, “A Straggling Bird” on view through December 7. The exhibition follows
the rhythms and perspectives of each artist, gazing out at the world from a
place of affection.
The five participating artists—Mira Park,
Sumin Song, Yi Soonjoo, Eun Kyong Lee, and Im Youngzoo—approach both themselves
and their surroundings with a spirit of affection while maintaining a certain
distance from both.
Mira Park observes the landscapes of this
era by moving at a slower pace, attuned to the small things that are often
overlooked in the rapid flow of present society. The emotions, situations, and
objects that she encounters on these walks become connected through the
narratives that emerge simultaneously on her black-and-white canvases.
Installation view of “A Straggling Bird” ©ONE AND J. GallerySumin Song begins by first collecting various
images encountered in everyday life, including the images of disasters and
misfortunes that we regularly consume in the media. Then, as these images
gradually fade from her memory, she explores them as afterimages.
Meanwhile, Yi Soonjoo adopts a profound yet
relaxed approach to exploring the fundamental anguish of humankind. With her
paintings, she caresses those things, such as desire, love, loss, etc., within
us that cannot be expressed through language.
Eun Kyong Lee was born in Senegal and spent
her adolescence in Russia. Therefore, she has been exposed to a diversity of
cultures. Drawing on these experiences, she explores the sense of unease and
tension that arises from contemporary society and human relationships.
Installation view of “A Straggling Bird” ©ONE AND J. GalleryIm Youngzoo, meanwhile, explores the popular,
everyday beliefs that permeate society. She connects the realm of the non-scientific—such
as religious faith, shamanism, and the wider world of belief—with scientific
methodologies.
The perspectives of these five artists evoke
the image of a bird straggling behind the flock. Even within an accelerated
society focused on moving forward, they observe both themselves and the world
around them—large and small aspects alike—with a distanced, affectionate gaze.
Ji Yeon Lee has been working as an editor for the media art and culture channel AliceOn since 2021 and worked as an exhibition coordinator at samuso (now Space for Contemporary Art) from 2021 to 2023.
