CREATION CONTINUA: Park Joon Photo Portraits of Korean Artist Diaspora in Greater New York
Mar 17- Apr 30, 2021
Gallery Korea, Korean Cultural Center New York
Virtual Closing Reception: Tuesday, April 27, 6 pm ET
CREATION CONTINUA: Park Joon Photo Portraits of Korean Artist Diaspora in Greater New York
Mar 17- Apr 30, 2021
Gallery Korea, Korean Cultural Center New York
Virtual Closing Reception: Tuesday, April 27, 6 pm ET
VIRTUAL GALLERY VIDEO: https://www.koreanculture.org/gallery-korea/2021/3/17/creation-continua
The Korean Cultural Center New York is pleased to present CREATION CONTINUA: Park Joon Photo Portraits of Korean Artist Diaspora in Greater New York, photographer Park Joon’s first portrait exhibition that comprises portraits that he has taken in the past two years of some of the most significant Korean-American artists living today.
A special exhibition celebrating Asia Week New York 2021, CREATION CONTINUA: Park Joon Photo Portraits of Korean Artist Diaspora in Greater New York chronologically displays photographs of 50 Korean immigrant artists who came to the United States in the latter 20th century and are still active in their practice. It provides a special intimate opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of modern and contemporary Korean art history through the histories of Korean diaspora artists.
Photo by PARK JOON
National borders have lost much of their meaning in today’s global society as people are free to move across the world; and many artists live and work in places where they were not born. The meaning of diaspora artists has gradually expanded to include those who have moved to different countries voluntarily, and are creating artworks unbounded by geographic identities. When reflecting on the history and the works of Korean artists who moved to New York in the 50s and 60s, the meaning of their individuals’ narratives becomes even more significant as a part of a greater canon.
Photo by YONNEE
A New York-based diaspora artist himself, Park Joon felt the need and desire to archive the lives and footprints of Korean artists in New York, a pivotal center of the art world. He began this meaningful project to photographically record each of their histories in his own way, through his lens. This project is unique in that Park photographed the artists in their homes or studios in order to capture their most natural and genuine selves. Park also presents each artist against a portable backdrop to focus only on the figures. In a way, CREATION CONTINUA is a rare record of the artists’ existence in another artist’s work, distanced from their own works, and is noteworthy for its place in the establishment of Korean American art history.
Since its establishment in 1979, the Korean Cultural Center New York has served as an outpost promoting Korean culture for more than 40 years and has grown together with Korean artists in New York. Through this exhibition, the Korean Cultural Center New York concludes a chapter of its history at 460 Park Avenue that it had shared with these artists, and at the same time takes a special opportunity to launch a new vision and future with them before moving to its new home.
CREATION CONTINUA: Park Joon Photo Portraits of Korean Artist Diaspora in Greater New York is co-curated by Hee Sung Cho, Curator at the KCCNY and Inhee Iris Moon, Director of FAZI.