GROUP EXHIBITION

Where Writing Breathes approaches visual art through the act of writing, inspired by the Korean term jak-ga, which refers to both artists and authors and is commonly associated with literary writing. The exhibition explores the act of creation through writing, focusing on texts produced by artists themselves.

Bringing together the works of ten artists (teams) who use writing as the foundation of their artistic practice across the fields of literature and visual art, the exhibition reveals an artistic realm in which acts of writing and reading become the basis of both creation and appreciation. The exhibition introduces creative processes in which diverse forms of writing—from poetry, novels, and essays to scripts and song lyrics— generate connections and dialogues across artistic disciplines. Artists’ writings, ranging from a scribbled word or short sentence to poems, fiction, essays, scripts, and lyrics, are transformed into paintings, sculptures, music, and kinetic performances, expanding into multidimensional narratives beyond text itself.

Comprising two sections—’Dynamic Reading as a Bodily Experience’ and ‘Reading the Relationship Between Language and Image’—the exhibition offers visitors a dynamic journey shaped by different methods of engaging with text.

The first section approaches reading as a bodily and sensory experience.

Featuring works in which text becomes spoken language, sound, or movement, this section proposes reading as a physical act that senses rhythm and breath while moving through space.

The second section focuses on text as a formal element. Through works that explore writing as a sculptural or visual act, and the process through which writing transforms into image, this section invites visitors to reflect on the relationship between language and image while encouraging contemplation of the world around us.

In the exhibition’s final space, visitors can encounter publications and archival materials by participating artists, offering a closer look into their writing-based artistic practices through the medium of books.

Meanwhile, an interactive artwork will also be installed at the courtyard of Buk-Seoul Museum of Art. Ahn Kyuchul’s new work, Tomorrow, consists of the word “Tomorrow” written with pebbles. Throughout the exhibition period, visitors can participate by moving pebbles from a nearby pile and placing them onto the work one by one.

During the exhibition period, Lee Minsun’s reading performance is presented on five dates—April 23, May 2, May 15, June 27, and July 10— while Ahn Kwanghui’s hip-hop performance took place twice, on April 23 and May 10.

Choi Eunju, General Director of the Seoul Museum of Art, stated: “This exhibition will provide an opportunity to rediscover the value of writing as an artistic practice that requires patience and waiting in a world where everything can now be generated instantly.”