[Curator’s Note]
Dino Mart isn’t just about the dinosaurs we think are long gone—or the towering giants that dwarf us in size. Dinosaurs are with us now. We imagine ones the size of pigeons or chickens. And we take a step further, asking what dinosaurs might mean to us today.
People: Even if a form disappears, someone still stays with us. There are people who linger in our hearts. Though we may not see them clearly, someone is out there, quietly breathing beside us.
Science: Some dinosaurs had feathers. Scientists say we may even know what colors they were.
Society: Many dinosaurs vanished in the great extinction, but some survived. Today, it's tough for people too. The economy is shaky, and globally we face a climate crisis. In Korea, rural decline and population collapse paint an uncertain future.
Dino Mart #1 The Grand Opening brings together artists Hong Sukkyun, Hyun Jiyun, and Lee Yewon, along with poets Joo Minhyeon, Lee Soyeon, and Ru Hyunah. Sometimes a dinosaur appears in full image, sometimes as a faint echo of its presence.
What’s your favorite dinosaur (or artwork)? Try thinking of one next time ‘you're on a walk or sipping tea and feel a little empty inside’.* Share your favorite dinosaur with us on Instagram or Facebook—we might just send you a fossil.
As someone who tends to say, “I’ll worry about tomorrow the day after tomorrow,” this exhibition wouldn’t have been possible without my partner, who tells me “you’re allowed to do everything you want,”* and the ever-supportive Philgyun. And of course, thank you to everyone who cheered us on. (Text by Jeon Sangbae)
* Lyric reference: SHIN Haechul, “Invitation to Daily Life”
** Lyric reference: IVE, “I WANT”
