Contemporary Art Gallery

Jung Yeondoo　Just Like the Road across the Earth

November 8 (Sat.),2014,to February 1 (Sun.),2015

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Adolescence #16　2011　C-print

I thought: hope cannot be said to exist, nor can it be said not to exist. It is just like roads across the earth. For actually the earth had no roads to begin with, but when many men pass one way, a road is made.
From “My Old Home” by Lu Xuin
In November 2014, Contemporary Art Center, Art Tower Mito will present the first major solo museum exhibition in Japan of work by Jung Yeondoo. From photography to video installation, “Jung Yeondoo: Just Like the Road across the Earth” will present a wide range of works following his artistic practice of engaging society by communicating with local people.

His works explore the uniqueness of life inspired by the memories and future dreams of anonymous people. The oeuvre, however, depicts not only their dreams and hopes but also the real world wherein it is not easy to realize them.
The exhibition will present his important past and recent works including “Borame Dance Hall”, “Ordinary Paradise”, “Six Points” and “Drive in Theater”. Disclosing the structure of making a film, “Ordinary Paradise” and “Drive in Theater” as well as his recent photo series “B-camera” make the audience realize that the imaginary world in film is an extension of our real life and it is not far from our everyday life story. This can be seen especially in one of his new works “Magician’s Walk”, made in collaboration with Korean illusion artist Lee Eungyeol, well-known Japanese jazz pianist Makoto Ozone, Seoul National University Music and Audio Research Group, and the citizens of Mito city. Jung was born in 1969 in Jinju. He was selected as ‘Artist of the Year” by the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul in 2007 and has participated in numerous international exhibitions including Venice Biennale and Shanghai Biennale. Jung has visited Mito city several times since January 2013 and observed the change of emotion and attitude in people after the ternary disasters of March 11th of 2011. During his stay, he happened to meet a blind masseur, Mr. Shiratori. Although unable to see the pictures, Mr. Shiratori has been photographing his commute to work almost every day. The new works in this exhibition are based on the inspiration Jung received from the act of Mr. Shiratori. The title of the exhibition is taken from the last sentence of “My Old Home” by Chinese author Lu Xuin. The road is the metaphor of hope and Jung will invite the audience to explore what hope is today.