Daejeon artists present autumn show

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Fri, December 8, 2023 | 06:16

Multicultural Community

Daejeon artists present autumn show

Posted : 2023-09-16 21:42

Updated : 2023-09-17 13:43

Sanjeeta Dasgupta's "Solitude" / Courtesy of Sanjeeta Dasgupta

By Monica Nickolai

The Daejeon Arts Collective (DJAC) will launch its upcoming fall exhibition at the Daejeon Jung-gu Cultural Center. DJAC is an eclectic group of international and Korean artists who began exhibiting together in 2011. Their upcoming exhibition will feature 10 artists from the U.S., Korea and India working in a variety of media, including experimental electronic music, ceramics, painting and printmaking.

This exhibition will be the first with DJAC for painter Sangeeta Dasgupta from India. She presents her nature-inspired artwork as "a visual tool for spreading awareness about important issues like conservation and preservation of the vast wealth of nature," she told The Korea Times.

"Manifesting Morgo in Morgo's Mind" by Morgo (Kim Hyun-gyu) / Courtesy of Morgo

Korean artist Kim Hyun-gyu, who signs his work with the nickname Morgo, will present his illustrations. His current work revolves around a cyborg superhero, also named Morgo. Through his graphic narrative, he explores the confusion of adopting multiple identities.

"There are a significant number of foreigners in this city, yet it always seems like the native Koreans have a hard time understanding and accepting them as neighbors," he told The Korea Times. "Maybe it's due to the difference in their appearance or the language ― or maybe it's just indifference. I believe that the works from the members of DJAC have the power to help people realize that aliens do live here as citizens ―just like the city mascot Kkumdori (who is a space sprite)!"

DJAC President Rosalie Osborn Knaack will present cyanotype and photography that reference North America's Sonoran Desert, where her family lives.

"The most valuable thing that DJAC offers the community is evidence that art is accessible to everyone," she said. "Few of our group members are professional artists, but we are all artists nonetheless. If I can hope for anything, it's that people can see the art in themselves and their potential for self-expression when they see what we have achieved in our DJAC exhibitions."

Rosalie Osborn Knaack's cyanotype, titled "Queen Victoria Agave"

The gallery will be open daily from Thursday, Sept. 21, until Tuesday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Visit djartsco.org or fb.com/DaejeonArtsCollective for more information.

Monica Nickolai is a writer and artist. Her text-based artwork has appeared at exhibitions in the U.S., Europe and Korea. She currently lives in Daejeon and teaches at Hongik University's Sejong Campus. Visit monicanickolai.com for more information.

jdunbar@koreatimes.co.kr