By Woo Jae-yeon
SEOUL, May 25 (Yonhap) -- Park Chan-kyong is a younger brother of globally renowned film director Park Chan-wook of "Old Boy" and more recently "The Handmaiden."
But he is no more introduced as such.
Having set off an authentic path as an interdisciplinary artist, he has been consistently exploring Korea's folk tradition, such as the shamanistic ritual of "gut," and delved into the dark side of the country's head-spinning growth and modernization through various channels.
"Annyeong Farewell," his first solo exhibition in Korea in five years, is his latest ode to countless, nameless souls who sacrificed themselves to the country's blind pursuit of becoming an economic powerhouse at the expense of the democracy and well-being of the underprivileged.
By remembering so many innocent lives that were cut short during many historical events such as the Korean War (1950-1953), the Gwangju Uprising (1980) and the recent Sewol Ferry Disaster (2014), Park believes the country can finally take a step toward overcoming the limitations of modernity.
"The title of the exhibition is meant to comfort and honor those who lost their lives during Korea's modern history. Also I'd like to send a positive message about the future," Park said during a press briefing at Kukju Gallery on Thursday, referring to the word "annyeong," which in Korean is used to bid farewell but as the same time greet or welcome someone...
