Art exhibition offers immersive journey through Korea's urban landscape

Researcher and artist Luisa Cools poses during the opening party for her exhibition "Matrix of Things" at Domansa in eastern Seoul's Seongsu-dong, Aug. 3. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

A small storefront in eastern Seoul's Seongsu-dong area has been converted into an eviction zone for an ongoing art exhibition. Titled "Matrix of Things," the exhibition by Australian researcher and artist Luisa Cools offers an immersive journey through Korea's urban landscape at Domansa, an architecture space, until Aug. 18.

Cools has more than a decade of lived experience observing the urban environment of cities around Korea and Asia, and her work demonstrates the profound connection she's developed with the built environment.

A visitor takes a photo of items displayed at Luisa Cools' exhibition "Matrix of Things" at Domansa in eastern Seoul's Seongsu-dong, Aug. 3. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar

"I hope to challenge Korean and foreign residents alike to look carefully and observe the vibrant patterns that make up our surroundings," she told The Korea Times. "Additionally, I aim to prompt questions and reflections about the balance between order and chaos in our cities. What do these everyday objects reveal about our collective memory and identity? How do they shape our interactions with urban spaces? And what can we learn from their presence as we envision the future of our cities?"

The room is decorated with dozens of photos showing various facets of the urban fabric, as well as cut-out reproductions of signs and even found objects, such as a broom, traffic cones, dishwashing gloves and a pair of worker's white gloves with the palms stained red with a sticky adhesive. Some of these are found objects, discarded items, freebies and actual purchased goods.

"As part of this process, I made a conscious point of sourcing everything locally," she explained. "I spent about a week going back and forth to all the old guys in Chungmuro, Euljiro and Jongno. To shops that specialise only in tape, to shops that exclusively sell construction and hazard equipment, to broom shops, to shops that only sell netting, too guys that only sell plastic sheets, shops only selling towels and pegs etc. Some of them were multigenerational businesses, others the guys had been the only owners of the business. But all of them long timers in this areas, 30-40 years in the same spot. And in a sense, they are probably the origin/source of a lot of the clutter and items seen in cities. Stacks ceiling-high of those white-and-red gloves that are almost ubiquitous in Korea. And they are also part of what will be lost through gentrification."

There is no strong sense of place in the exhibited images and items, as many of the objects and scenes highlighted are ubiquitous, often deemed mundane or overlooked and seen as "clutter" by many. The focus is not on the individual pieces but on the overall space and the mixture of things.

Icons of everyday items are displayed at Luisa Cools' "Matrix of Things" exhibition at Domansa in eastern Seoul's Seongsu-dong, Aug. 4. Courtesy of Luisa Cools

"Through my lens, I see the streets of Seoul not as dirty or as void space, but as vibrant tapestries of human existence," Cools said. "I curated this exhibition as more than just a collection of photographs — it is a spatial experience that mimics a walk through the city's vibrant streets and hidden alleyways. As visitors step into the exhibition, they immediately enter a chaotic environment that replicates the sensory overload of the bustling metropolis of Seoul."

Yellow lines crisscross the walls and floor, symbolizing the disruption and resistance these items pose to the straight lines of urban planning.

"As you navigate through the exhibition, I hope you will notice the layers of life that these objects bring to the streets of Seoul," Cools said. "Each object tells a story of interaction, of daily life and of the organic vitality that defies the rigid planning frameworks imposed upon the city. These items are not mere clutter; they are markers of memory and identity, signifying the presence of the individuals who have lived, worked and interacted in these spaces."

Items are set up on a tiered table for Luisa Cools' "Matrix of Things" exhibition at Domansa in eastern Seoul's Seongsu-dong, Aug. 4. Courtesy of Luisa Cools

Pieces of rubble are stacked like "doltap" at Luisa Cools' "Matrix of Things" exhibition at Domansa in eastern Seoul's Seongsu-dong, Aug. 4. Courtesy of Luisa Cools

At the back wall of the room sits a multi-level installation that partly resembles an actual eviction zone and partly resembles a memorial altar. Pieces of actual rubble from building demolition are stacked up on top of each other, resembling "doltap," a stone pile stacked along paths or at village entrances to drive away evil spirits and welcome good luck. The makeshift altar also sports yellow-and-red tape marked "DANGER" and the word "cheol-geo" (removal) made by the artist in red spray paint, mimicking the graffiti often found in redevelopment zones.

"Seoul is a city undergoing rapid redevelopment," Cools said. "Old neighborhoods, with their unique textures and layers of history, are being swiftly replaced by modern high-rises and polished infrastructure. In this relentless march towards the future, the past is being erased, and with it, the everyday objects that once added life and character to the urban environment."

"Matrix of Things" challenges the notion that redevelopment must come at the cost of erasing the past and questions the impact of this rapid transformation on our perception of space. By highlighting the significance of ordinary objects, the exhibition aims to foster a deeper appreciation for the subtle protests they represent against the attempts to control and homogenize the complex urban environment. Viewers are invited to reflect on the presence and loss of everyday items in our collective memory, their role in shaping individual perceptions of space and how their presence serves as a subtle protest against attempts to control the complex urban environment.

This exhibition is the middle part of a three-part series titled "Local Non-Locals," featuring the perspectives of three foreigners on urbanity and connections as outsiders to city space and urban issues in Korea. The first part was by Dutch national Dion Bierdrager, and the final part, expected for next month, will feature fellow Dutchman Bart van Genugten, a well-known YouTuber also known as iGoBart.

A closing party will be held on Aug. 18.

This is Cools' second solo exhibition, following "Urban Poetry" in Euljiro last year, which paired carefully selected traditional Korean idioms with scenes of urban space and delved into individual perceptions of space and the poeticism of the city.

Cools says she plans to release a small book of essays and more theoretical aspects of her research, as it is part of a larger process.

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