‘Skillful Attention Seeker’ ... Busan Museum of Modern Art Hosts International Curated Exhibition

Busan Museum of Modern Art will hold the international curated exhibition "Skillful Attention Seekers" in Exhibition Rooms 2 and 3 on the basement first floor of the museum until July 7.

‘Skillful Attention Seeker’ Poster.

"Skillful Attention Seekers" explores various layers of 'attention seekers' appearing in contemporary art, investigating the history of attention from the past to the present and examining how the phenomenon of attention and 'Gwanjong' (Gwan-sim + Jong-ja, meaning attention + seed) has taken root in our daily lives.

Beyond the somewhat provocative term 'Gwanjong,' the exhibition explores how the pursuit of attention is not merely an individual issue but an essential part of the society we face. It highlights strategies used to gain attention in various fields such as art, advertising, and politics, while examining the conflicts, contradictions, and creativity that arise in this process.

It also provides an opportunity to reflect on "how extreme we can become to gain attention" and "how much we can lose ourselves in the process," contemplating not just the simple pursuit of attention but our essential selves and ways of life.

This exhibition features 23 teams (32 people) of domestic and international artists, critics, curators, and researchers, presenting 136 works across diverse fields including painting, sculpture, photography, video, installation, criticism, research, and archival materials.

▲ Thirteen Korean artists participate, including Du Kim, who creates multiple selves to explore art at the boundary of change and conflict; Seong Neung-kyung, who uses the artist’s body and actions as primary media for artworks; and Lee Mok-ha, who uncovers the gap between the intrinsic self and the constructed persona.

Additionally, visitors can see works by overseas artists rarely exhibited in Korea, such as ▲ Chris Burden (USA), who reflected the surreal and precarious reality of modern people and constantly challenged mental and physical limits; ▲ Thomas Hirschhorn (Switzerland), who forms public discourse and proposes alternative models of thought and existence; ▲ Piero Manzoni (Italy), a pioneer of conceptual art who questioned the essence of art; and ▲ Ana Mendieta (Cuba-born USA), who practiced deep exploration of the inner self and nature through works blending body, nature, and records.

To aid visitors’ understanding of the exhibition, related programs and docent-led tours will be conducted.

Seong Neung-kyung’s exhibition-linked performance "Reading the Newspaper" was held on the 16th, and three "Artist Talks" are scheduled between April and June.

Also, on the basement first floor at "Chaekgeurimseom," a program titled "In the Forest of Gwanjong" will be presented in May, where participating artist Shin Min will read picture books related to 'attention' to children.

Docent-led tours, which were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume from April 4 and be held six times a week until the exhibition’s final day on July 7 to enhance visitors’ understanding.

Alongside this, special exhibition-linked art products featuring unique logos representing each artist’s identity as a brand will be sold at the museum shop starting in May.

In this exhibition, each artist’s identity was regarded as a unique brand and given a logo, which was then used to create exhibition-linked products. After remodeling, the museum shop, reopening in early May, will offer various art products including posters, T-shirts, cups, eco-bags, stickers, and mirrors. These art products will be sold in limited quantities on a first-come, first-served basis.

Seungwan Kang, director of Busan Museum of Modern Art, said, "The core of this exhibition is to encourage a candid and adventurous approach to the phenomena of 'attention' and 'Gwanjong.' Through this exhibition, we hope visitors encounter skillful attention seekers who exquisitely and elegantly redefine the norms of art, and that it becomes an opportunity to question not just the desire to receive attention but the ways we recognize and connect with each other."

The exhibition is free to enter, open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closed every Monday. For more details, please refer to the Museum of Modern Art’s website or contact by phone.

Along with the exhibition opening, Busan Museum of Modern Art will open its rooftop observatory to provide various cultural experiences and conveniences for visitors. The ongoing lobby remodeling will improve and open information, rest, sales, and caf? spaces in April, and the museum shop will open in May.