Finding stars in the night sky can be elusive, much like the experience of viewing Koo Jeong A's solo exhibition, 'OUSSSMOS,' which opened on September 5 at the Leeum Museum.
Outside the museum, 50 crystals titled 'Reality Upgrade & End Alone' are embedded in the dark stone wall, revealing themselves only under the right conditions. On a clear day, the crystals sparkle, reminiscent of stars that require luck to be seen. In a similar way, the crystals hidden in the wall become stars at certain moments.
Koo's 'OUSSSMOS' evokes the moment in spring when ice begins to melt, blurring the lines between water and ice. In an era that demands clear distinctions, 'OUSSSMOS' poses questions reminiscent of the butterfly dream, challenging the certainty of our perceptions and whether we truly see what is real.
For over 30 years, Koo has incorporated intangible elements such as scent, light, sound, magnetism, and gravity into her work, defying fixed definitions and clear boundaries.
The exhibition appears to delineate boundaries at first glance, featuring a massive stainless steel structure weighing nearly 6 tons alongside pencil leads, sugar cube houses, shimmering crystals, and rough stones, showcasing the coexistence of contrasting properties. Where there is heaviness, there is lightness; where there is solidity, there is fragility.
However, during a press conference on August 31, Koo remarked on the pencil lead, stating, "While it is materially fragile, it is produced by a powerful industrial system. It should not be viewed as merely weak."
The exhibition challenges fixed boundaries. The infinity symbol-shaped 'Mobius' blurs the lines between beginning and end. 'Gravita,' located at the museum entrance, absorbs light during the day and glows in the dark, prompting reflections on the nature of light and darkness. In 'Reality Upgrade & End Alone,' it is unclear whether the stone is pressing down on the crystal or if the crystal is supporting the stone.
The piece 'Ever Bust' consists of two large rocks, one located outside the museum and the other suspended from the ceiling far away. They cannot be viewed simultaneously. From the perspective of 'Ever,' the other rock is 'that one,' while from 'Bust,' 'Ever' becomes 'that one.' This binary distinction does not apply.
'OUSSSMOS' shakes the eye that has divided the visible from the invisible, the strong from the weak, and this from that. The living tree sways. If you are okay with not seeing the light that is either a star or a satellite, a visit to 'OUSSSMOS' is recommended.
The exhibition runs until December 27.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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