The exhibition 'Going to Polish' by artist Lee Doo-soo, which depicts the landscapes of labor and life encountered on construction sites, is being held at Space Ark in Pocheon, South Korea, starting October 3.
This exhibition sheds light on the skills, responsibilities, and camaraderie of construction workers, often overshadowed by the term 'labor.' It examines how labor shapes an individual's life and community.
The title 'polishing' refers to the process of cutting, carving, and refining jade or stone. It intertwines the labor of selecting walls and refining materials on-site with the introspective time spent refining one's life.
The works capture the perspective of workers actively engaged in their tasks. Their hands not only complete the space but symbolize the process of enhancing their skills, building relationships with colleagues, and cultivating their lives independently.
Lee warns against viewing labor merely as a burdensome routine or romanticizing sweat and sacrifice. He sees workers in the construction industry, characterized by unstable employment and intense competition, as independent agents who learn their craft while ensuring each other's safety.
Furthermore, the exhibition highlights the often-overlooked traces of labor, posing a profound question about who has shaped the spaces we inhabit. An exhibition representative stated, 'This is a place where workers can tell their own stories, and those stories are respected.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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