
Park Chan-Kyong
Sets, 2000
Photographs (35mm, automated slide projection)
15 minutes
Edition of 3, 2 AP
Sets is an automated slide projection of images with succinct explanatory texts. The work is divided into three sections. The first section's set represents a North Korean street that mimics Seoul. The second set transports you to a construction site in South Korea for ware exercise. The last section's set consists of photographs from the movie set of "Joint Security Area" (S.K movie) which again mimics the streets of North Korea as well as the landscape surrounding Panmunjom, the place Korean Armistice Agreement was signed.
Set A: Movie sets resembling buildings and streets of Seoul at the Korean Film Studio in North Korea
Set B: Set constructions for exercise of simulated street warfare in the South Korean army bases.
Set C: Movie sets for the "Joint Security Area (JSA)" (South Korean feature film) in South Korea. The sets have the landscape and constructino precisely simulating Panmunjom at DMZ.
The differences between the streets of South and North Korea in the film sets seem subtle due to North's depiction of "old" Seoul. Nevertheless, the tension and political and military complexities that has continued from the Cold War is strongly present. The narration of scenes through film sets also signifies the absurdity of the formation of both countries. Like a theater or movie Park sees Korean history as the product of fictionalized narrative and government's manipulation on our national consciousness.
Sets is an automated slide projection of images with succinct explanatory texts. The work is divided into three sections. The first section's set represents a North Korean street that mimics Seoul. The second set transports you to a construction site in South Korea for ware exercise. The last section's set consists of photographs from the movie set of "Joint Security Area" (S.K movie) which again mimics the streets of North Korea as well as the landscape surrounding Panmunjom, the place Korean Armistice Agreement was signed.
Set A: Movie sets resembling buildings and streets of Seoul at the Korean Film Studio in North Korea
Set B: Set constructions for exercise of simulated street warfare in the South Korean army bases.
Set C: Movie sets for the "Joint Security Area (JSA)" (South Korean feature film) in South Korea. The sets have the landscape and constructino precisely simulating Panmunjom at DMZ.
The differences between the streets of South and North Korea in the film sets seem subtle due to North's depiction of "old" Seoul. Nevertheless, the tension and political and military complexities that has continued from the Cold War is strongly present. The narration of scenes through film sets also signifies the absurdity of the formation of both countries. Like a theater or movie Park sees Korean history as the product of fictionalized narrative and government's manipulation on our national consciousness.
Provenance
Acquired directly from the artist's studio
Exhibitions
Happy Together, Tina Kim Gallery, New York, NY, 2015
3
of
3