This is a great month for Korean art in London. Just received from Margot Bannerman:
here I am now
12 – 16 December
Monday – Friday, 12 – 4.30pm, Saturday, 10.30am – 4.30pm
Byam Shaw School of Art at Central St Martins
2 Elthorne Road | Archway | London N19 4AG
The title of the exhibition ‘here I am now’ is in part a response to ‘Where are you now?’ – an earlier exhibition of Byam Shaw staff and student work at the 12 Box Gallery in Kyungwon University, Seoul in June this year. This ‘return’ exhibition in London continues the exchange between the two. We were initially thinking about the distance between the two institutions (geographically and culturally) despite ease of communications. In both exhibitions was the stipulation that the work should convey something about the environment in which the artists found themselves to viewers in Seoul / London, whether in reference to a physical or psychological space or to a socio-political context.
‘Here I am now’ is part of a wider initiative to explore the possibilities for collaborative projects between the two institutions. Large numbers of Korean students study at the University of the Arts in London, much less is known in London about Korean art and design. We are interested in encouraging a more reciprocal and fluid model to stimulate a range of opportunities for dialogue and exchange involving staff and students.
‘Here I am now’ also proposes ‘here’ as an interdisciplinary space countering the sometimes strict demarcations between different specialisms. The 24 participating artists and designers — students and lecturers — will be presenting work that attempts both to place itself in a space that exists between separate disciplines and
hopefullybetween the art institution and the wider environment. This is very much a reflection of the ethos of PIDC (Public Design Innovation Centre) at Kyungwon University who have been the partner to the Byam Shaw in organising these exhibitions. PIDC is a cross-departmental research centre funded by the Korean government with a remit to promote collaboration between the different disciplines within the art and design departments, and to facilitate projects with organisations outside the University.We are grateful to both Kyung Won University and the Byam Shaw at Central St Martins for their support in this venture.
Ahn Sung Hee (PIDC Kyung Won University)
Margot Bannerman (The Byam Shaw School of Art at CSM)
