Artists: Forms of the Shadow - Sunjung Kim in conversation with Bettina Spörr

Forms of the Shadow is the first group exhibition at the Secession since 2018, continuing the loose series of guest-curated thematic shows held there at irregular intervals.

In this podcast, recorded on 20 September 2024, the day after the opening, Bettina Spörr speaks with Sunjung Kim about her REAL DMZ PROJECT and how Forms of the Shadow evolved from it. Their conversation also explores Sunjung Kim’s personal motivation to engage with the political division of North and South Korea, as well as her journey to becoming one of South Korea’s most influential curators.

This episode is the first in a series accompanying the exhibition, offering deeper insights into the artists and their work. Individual conversations with Kyungah Ham, Young In Hong, Jane Jin Kaisen, Joon Kim, Lee Kit, Minouk Lim, Adrián Villar Rojas, Ramiro Wong, Tomoko Yoneda, Jin-me Yoon, and Min Yoon were conducted and will be released in the coming weeks throughout the exhibition:

 

Forms of the Shadow

Curated by Sunjung Kim

20.9. – 17.11.2024

 

Forms of the Shadow casts light on contemporary shadows unveiled by the global pandemic, the climate crisis, and geopolitical tensions. Through this thematic lens, it invites viewers to reflect upon the interconnectedness of our world and the complexities of navigating through turbulent times. By shedding light on the ever-shifting nature of shadows and their metaphorical significance in witnessing the passage of time, the exhibition prompts reflection on the intricate layers of human existence. More

Sunjung Kim is currently the artistic director of Art Sonje Center in Seoul (2022–), the chair of ICOM Republic of Korea (2023–), and a board member of ICOM ASPAC (International Council of Museums Asia-Pacific Alliance). She was the president of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation (2017–2021), director of Art Sonje Center (2016–2017), the artistic director of ACC Archive & Research at the Asia Art Culture Center (2014–2015), and chief curator and deputy director (1993–2004) of Art Sonje Center. Additionally, she is the founder and artistic director of the REAL DMZ PROJECT, an art and research project designed to cross the boundaries of the museum and launched in 2011 to explore the (in)visible borders of the Demilitarized Zone through the critical lens of art and to raise awareness about the division of Korea.

Bettina Spörr is a curator at the Secession (2008-present), where she engages in close collaboration with artists to conceptualize and realize exhibitions. Throughout her career, she has worked with numerous artists on solo exhibitions and, in 2010, curated where do we go from here?, another edition of Secession’s Young Scene, presenting around 30 artists from Austria and Central Eastern Europe. She worked at the Generali Foundation (2002-2008) and spent a year in Singapore (2001-2002), where she worked in a contemporary art gallery.

 

The Dorotheum is the exclusive sponsor of the Secession Podcast.

 

Jingle: Hui Ye with an excerpt from Combat of dreams for string quartet and audio feed (2016, Christine Lavant Quartett) by Alexander J. Eberhard

Programmed by the board of the Secession

Audio Editor: Paul Macheck

Executive Producer: Bettina Spörr