[K-ART FOCUS] For Koo Jeong-a, missing is part of seeing
Koo Jeong-a makes art from what people usually fail to notice: the lingering trace of scent, a glow that emerges only after darkness falls and a crystal that flashes only when a viewer happens to stand in the right place. Her new solo exhibition at Leeum Museum of Art, “KOO JEONG A: OUSSSMOS,” turns that preoccupation into a museum-wide experience. On a rainy afternoon, the first challenge was…
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Koo Jeong-a's new exhibition at the Leeum Museum of Art, titled "KOO JEONG A: OUSSSMOS," invites visitors to experience the artist's unique preoccupation with the subtle traces of scent, the subtle glow that emerges after darkness, and a crystal that only flashes when viewed from the correct angle. The exhibition is spread across the entire museum, turning the gallery into a vast, interactive space.
To begin the journey, visitors must first locate 50 crystals hidden in a dark gabion wall outside the gallery. This task, designed to challenge the notion of looking versus seeing, tests whether the observer truly engages with the artwork. Inside the exhibition, the crystal "A Reality Upgrade & End Alone" (2003/2026) remains elusive, revealing its light only after the viewer shifts position and looks again.
Koo Jeong-a, interviewed at a press event for her new show, emphasized that "seeing is understanding" and "seeing is knowing." However, she clarified that she cannot force viewers to comprehend her works; she merely hopes they will find their own pathway.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- [K-ART FOCUS] For Koo Jeong-a, missing is part of seeing koreatimes.co.kr
