Make A Wish is an exhibition focusing on what we've lost and need to reclaim in an era of lightness. Unlike the past, where unchanging universal values prevailed, unstable daily life has become the “new normal” in this age where constant change is the only truth. People now feel the weightlessness of existence more than ever, drifting as algorithms guide them through the digital landscape, which has become another facet of normalcy. In this reality, we ponder what we can rely on to alleviate anxiety and avoid succumbing to depression and emptiness. We contemplate how to reclaim vital aspects of life, such as communication, symbiosis, peace, and happiness, which seem to be slipping away. Perhaps it's time to summon the Genie of the lamp and make a wish.
The exhibition features eight artists who act as 'guides,' presenting new stories and wisdom across two parts. The first section showcases artists demonstrating how societal phenomena, like individual anxieties and isolation, can be transformed into communication, reconciliation, and symbiosis, often through entities resembling 'ghosts' from folklore, myths, and fairy tales. Artworks from the first four guides offer direction Make A Wish to drifting humans, sharing life wisdom through unique narratives that serve as portals between realms, from reality to spiritual realms, and from conflict to healing. Naomi creates a magical space bridging past and present, humanity and divinity, with a focus on disappearing elements. Zadie Xa and Heesoo Kwon explore alterity from a feminist perspective, drawing from Korean mythology, folklore, and shamanism to depict transcendent yet wise beings in painting and 3D animation. Dabal Kim seeks to blur the boundaries between binary gender identities, aiming to fuse body and clothing.
The second section showcases artists exploring how to rediscover meaning in a world that often feels weightless, addressing internal struggles. Another four artists propose practical methods, reminiscent of granting wishes like the Genie from the lamp. They illustrate, through fervent wishes and prayers, not only ways to alleviate anxiety and emptiness but also practical steps towards personal and collective happiness and fulfillment. Geunyoung Hong presents an alchemy of transforming viewers' unhappiness into symbols of good fortune using clay sculptures. Min Shin offers a large figurine where viewers can attach their wishes, fostering introspection into themselves and their connections with others. Wonwoo Lee presents a sculpture evoking Greco-Roman times, using cotton candy to remind modern individuals, accustomed to weakened human contact and materialistic consumption, of the important values they risk losing. Hansaem Kim encourages viewers to confront real-world challenges by juxtaposing them with the fantasy of a hero's salvation depicted in images reminiscent of RPG video games or religious iconography, suggesting that even in an era of lightness that may leave us feeling hollow and empty, we have the ability to confront and overcome our own problems, much like heroes, ultimately saving ourselves.
This exhibition, presented as a 'spiritual journey,' aims to illustrate the belief that despite life's fleeting nature, humans can uphold dignity and inward freedom. It is hoped that the stories initiated by the artists will resonate with the personal narratives, myths, and heartfelt aspirations of the audience, eventually evolving into wisdom passed down through generations.
