The 3 weeks in Seoul were probably in the climatic / weather-wise best season, with mild temperatures of 20 degrees on average, in sunshine and under a bright blue sky, the first very cold nights and a spectacularly colorful scenario of autumn colors in the woods and on the (inner-city) mountains and hills. What remained invisible was and is quite shocking – the climatic particulate pollution is extremely high and has become an everyday problem. Values are published via apps or on large LED billboards. Although the number of passers-by in the cityscape equipped with a mask is rather low. Nevertheless, the effects of environmental pollution are everywhere noticeable and audible; they are addressed everywhere.
This observation, which is not visible except for numbers, values and statistics, is probably an example of my stay. At the same time, I am right in the middle of the topic because after all, it is about forms of industrial and spatial production. It’s about overlaps and moments / regimes of visibility and obscuration surrounding the black boxes of today’s industrial production. The topic of environmental pollution is inseparably linked to local and global political tendencies. It is a conflict area with the immediate neighbors of the PRC; it shows the dimensions that make up climate change and measures to stop it.
The encounters, appointments and meetings that I had were intense and gave orientation in a landscape of information that otherwise can not be opened up for linguistic reasons alone. The results are intermediate notes that are inserted in a note in a project, which will continue in Duisburg and later in the year in Mexico.
As far as my way of working is concerned, an environment of knowledge is becoming increasingly important for them. This includes dealing with artistic positions on topics that I deal with. Thus, in exchange with Dirk Fleischmann, who has been working performatively for Kaesong for many years, a dialogue has emerged that will take us both together to Tijuana this summer, where Dirk will also be involved in the exhibition. The same applies to a project on Dongducheon, which ended more than 10 years ago in an interdisciplinary exhibition and publication. Two of the participating artists – Sangdon Kim and Siren Eun Young Jung will also be involved in Tijuana.
It remains the intention and hope that these moments will continue as a continuous practice, but also as cooperative action and interdisciplinary communication….