ChonGyeChon memories _ 4 channel video-installation _ 2003 _ 11'32" _ 4 channel audio

this work deals with a reconstruction project in Seoul, where a small river in central Seoul is being reconstructed. This river was forced underground in the 70ties, when the president decided to build a highway over it.

From my point of view the reconstruction of the ChonGyeChon area has it's good and bad sides. What I love about this area is its unique naturally grown mix of markets and workshops, where you can get really everything (if you know in what area to search). ChonGyeChon is an essential provider of resources for my media-installations be it material or inspiration (including the one for this exhibition).
What I never really liked about this area, is the dark concrete highway, that is shading the streets and makes this area best suitable as a set for a gloomy feature-film about the end of our civilization.
I like the plan to bring nature back to the city, by tearing down the highway and reestablishing a river, what I fear though is, that in long term the unique atmosphere of the area will give way to a boring mix of expensive department stores, restaurants and office-buildings.

Materials I used for the installallation are all gathered in the ChonGyeChon area. The monitors are emerged in water ... a metaphor for the markets drowning through the newly reconstructed river. Slowmotion images of the markets are going backwards, while underwater images of nature are playing forward.