Artists shed light on global issues at UN

Curator Kim Yu-yeon, second from left, poses with artists participating in the “Intersections/New Conjunctions” exhibit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on June 3. The artists are Cha Jae-min from Korea, left, Sabine Bitter from Austria, second from right, and Yuken Teruya from Japan. / Courtesy of Kim Yu-yeon

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Independent curator Kim Yu-yeon has just concluded a contemporary art exhibit at the United Nations Headquarters in New York that ran from June 1-15.

Titled "Intersections/New Conjunction," the exhibition focused on a wide range of social issues, ranging from excessive urbanization and rapid economic growth to environmental pollution and human rights problems.

Kim is a New York-based curator who has extensive experience in international exhibitions, including "Tong" at Haeinsa Temple in Korea in 2011 and the Mediations Biennale 2008 in Poland. She also introduced Korean artists to the world through "Hanji Metamorphoses," a special exhibit featuring Korean traditional paper in New York in 2012 and "The Points of the Compass" in Cuba in 2008.

Eight artists and teams from six countries took part in the exhibit. The list of participating artists includes El Anatsui from Ghana; Sabine Bitter and Helmut Weber from Austria; Cha Jae-min from Korea; Chang Yoon-seong from Korea; Mel Chin from the United States; Yuken Teruya from Japan and Lee Wan from Korea.

The exhibit: "Intersections/New Conjunction" was held at a conference hall at the U.N. Headquarters.

"The artists mainly explored themes interconnected with politics, economics and the environment. Some of the works are documentary and interview video pieces too," Kim said.

The venue was not open to the public and instead serves as a passageway for international specialists who work at the U.N. Those who want to see the exhibit were required to make reservations in advance.

"This is where the world's leaders, diplomats and experts in politics, economics, environment and culture congregate. The distinctiveness of the space made me work on a theme of intersection and new conjunction, which offers a new vision," Kim said. "This is the center of global governance and the leaders could take a step back, watch the artworks and get inspired. I hope the exhibit made a contribution to positive changes in the world."