Tuesday, April 5, 2011

What Seoul needs now is another Paik Nam June


I was at the Samsung Gallery (The Leeum) in Iteawon looking at a Paik Nam June. The video from screens flickered constantly in the typical Paik Nam June way. This guy was looking at it next to me and said "It looks like a video game." He was not happy about the art work in front of him. Maybe that was the artists intention. To make people a little upset. The situation made me laugh a little. The fact that this guy was upset art did have an effect on him that day. What was he expecting to see at the gallery?
What we what to see in a gallery/museum usually does not match we want. Accept that or stay home and play video games.
One thing you can say about Paik he was always interesting. Korea could use another Paik right now.
There is a lot of art to see in Seoul. I love it and I don't take it for granted.
But it's no where near Tokyo. Not even the same ball park.
Japan did something right along the way. I'm not sure what. So in a sense they've earned the right to be a cultural hub. I do feel like Japan has more people who want to invest in art. Seoul could very well be another Tokyo.
Seoul could use another Paik Nam June. A new artist to help jump start an international dialog, because in the end that's what's gonna make or break a city.

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