Secession Podcast 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:
With Nilbar Güreş; Ramin Haerizadeh, Rokni Haerizadeh and Hesam Rahmanian; Kyungah Ham; Young In Hong; ikkibawiKrrr; Jane Jin Kaisen; Joon Kim; Lee Bul; Lee Kit; Mikael Levin; Minouk Lim; Moon Kyungwon & Jeon Joonho; Adrián Villar Rojas; Ramiro Wong; Haegue Yang; Tomoko Yoneda; Jin-me Yoon; Min Yoon
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.
Since 2008, Bettina Spörr is a curator at the Secession, where she engages in close collaboration with artists to conceptualise and realise exhibitions that explore the profound impact of contemporary art on society. Throughout her career, she has worked with numerous artists on solo exhibitions and, in 2010, curated the group show where do we go from here? that took up the format of Secession’s ‘Young Scene’ exhibitions, presenting around 30 artists from Austria and Central Europe. From 2002 to 2008, she worked at the Generali Foundation and from 2001 to 2002 spent a year in Singapore, where she worked in a contemporary art gallery, gaining valuable international experience and insights into the global art scene.
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
Portrait: © JM Jung
Sunjung Kim, Photo: JM Jung
Sunjung Kim at the exhibition talk with the artists Jane Jin Kaisen and Adrián Villar Rojas, moderated by Noit Banai. Photo: (c) Natascha Unkart
Sunjung Kim with Ramesch Daha at the opening of Forms of the Shadow. Photo: (c) Natascha Unkart
