SAVE OUR SEOUL

IB Art Exhibition

Save Our Seoul

My exhibition explores the complex relationship between Seoul’s architecture and its citizens’ mindsets, revealing how both shape social dysfunction and cultural erosion. Drawing from my personal experience living in Seoul, I guide visitors beyond the city’s polished surface to confront hidden issues of inequality and cultural decay. Designed as a one-way journey, the exhibition mirrors my own discoveries to provide visitors with a new perspective on societal issues and spark reflection on how Seoul can rebuild a more cohesive, culturally vibrant future.

1. Slum Skyscraper

Ceramic, Wood & Metal Sculpture

52 x 26 x 23 cm

This sculpture symbolises how Seoul's architecture mirrors its inequality. Affluent neighbourhoods boast towering skyscrapers while poorer areas are left in their shadows and this normalised dichotomy creates a physical and psychological divide that threatens social cohesion. Through this piece, I hope to raise awareness of the often-overlooked inequality in Seoul by reversing the hierarchy of height that usually divides the population into rich and poor.

2. Miracle Through a Filter

Digital Photography Print & Acrylic Sheets

100 x 100cm

'Miracle on the Han River' describes the era of South Korea's fast economic expansion that followed the Korean War and bold skyscrapers stand proudly in Seoul's finance districts as concrete symbols of success for the world to witness. However, these glittering trophies blind us to the reality of growing societal issues in Seoul arising from such rapid development. It's like the world sees Seoul through a filter that only highlights its success, leaving no room for reflection on accompanying problems.

3. Crush Culture for Coins

Stop Motion Animation

This animation depicts how Seoul’s rapid development has resulted in a competitive, consumerist mindset, propelling the city’s economy, but causing the urbanisation of Seoul to become an automated process. My aim with this piece was to criticise how the emphasis on real estate has relentlessly eradicated villages rich in culture, replacing them with monotonous apartment buildings with a sole purpose to generate income for developers, not to house and nurture the people of Seoul.

4. Mass-construction

Oil Paint

92 x 29cm

These paintings, inspired by Andy Warhol, reflect the growing consumerism in Seoul and the resulting ‘mass construction’ of buildings. The repetitive composition illustrates the increasing banality of designs, while the vibrant colours suggest that people often overlook this and celebrate urbanisation as progress towards a better future. However, my intention is to encourage viewers to see beyond the distracting colours and question the value of a future without creativity and originality.

5. Great City Reef

Colour Pencil

34 x 47cm

By visiting Gamcheon Culture Village, I witnessed how a city promotes tourism as a way to hide its inequality. Although the village's vividly painted houses were attractive, I noticed the deteriorating conditions of many homes. It reminded me of a coral reef, rich in culture but dying due to underlying issues in our society, inspiring me to create this piece; I hope that Seoul can learn from this and take proactive measures to prevent the bleaching of its cultural identity before it's too late.

6. Seouless

Monoprint

120 x 90cm

I was inspired to use newspapers as a medium after seeing them used as wallpaper in a deprived home in Itaewon. Through this piece, I aim to do what newspapers have failed to do - expose the extent of inequality in Seoul that has killed the livelihood of poorer areas. Additionally, I aim to encourage the viewer to reflect on their own role in perpetuating societal issues and consider the possibility that they may have unconsciously contributed to the collective mindset that created them.

7. On the Line

Graphite Pencil & Photography

140 x 150 cm

With this piece, my intention was to capture the dismal atmosphere of impoverished areas in Seoul and highlight the immoral neglect these communities have faced and emphasise that this inequality should be addressed, not covered up. I incorporated a telephone to suggest that these communities are not only 'on the line' in the sense that they are at serious risk of dying out but also that they are 'on the line', still holding onto the hope that someone will pick up the phone and help them.

8. Save Our Seoul (SOS)

Relief Woodblock Print

Individual: 40 x 55 cm

Floor: 268 x 383 cm

Banners: 651 x 55 cm

My visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace inspired these woodcuts, which aim to capture the fierce beauty of Seoul's historic and traditional architecture. By placing them on the floor to be trampled by people, I wanted to convey that modern urbanisation has devalued the culture that is the soul of Seoul. It's evident that our society urgently needs a mindset reset and address more fundamental issues to ensure the future wellbeing of Seoul.

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