Art collective multiplies creativity with short-lived 'Mayfly' exhibit
An artist paints during a Crazy Multiply Mayfly event. / Courtesy of Crazy Multiply
By Hallie Bradley
The mayfly only lives for a few hours, and so does Seoul-based art collective Crazy Multiply's bimonthly exhibition series MAYFLY.
This Saturday from 6 p.m. comes MAYFLY XVI, which takes a unique approach to art by taking the jurying process out of curation, lasting only four hours.
Crazy Multiply co-curator Kaleena Carter explained that instead of curators picking the artists, the submission pool is open to anyone regardless of age, background or professional experience. This allows any artist who submits art to be guaranteed a place in the exhibition.
“As curators in this project, our only job is as exhibition coordinators _ the rest is up to the individual artists who are involved,” she explained.
The June 9 exhibition will bring together 14 artists from as near as Korea and as far away as the U.S., Chile, South Africa and Pakistan.
The concept of MAYFLY is significant because “the art world is a self-enforcing ivory tower that is heavily guarded by current market forces,” explained curator Samantha Blumenfeld.
“As contemporary curators it is our challenge to confront this issue in contemporary art and work towards a meaningful solution.”
MAYFLY is an opportunity for artists to showcase and defend their work in front of the public, an opportunity artists are not often afforded.
“There are so many amazing artists out there, but you would almost never know because they don't fit into the paradigm of what an artist should be,” Blumenfeld said.
The collaborative event most assuredly provides something different for both artists and spectators.
The 16th exhibition will showcase South African screen printer Tannith Kriel, mixed media artist Kim Na-young, Pakistani VR painter Omar Gilani, oil painter by Choi Jeong-yeon and video artist Jeong Eun-hyeong to name just a few.
The curators of Crazy Multiply say every exhibition is different, with some artists showing multiple times and others moving on to other projects after these exhibitions.
Crazy Multiply is dedicated to “erasing the obstacles between creation and exhibition,” according to their website. Founded in 2013 by Amy Smith, Olivia McNair and Laura MacDonald, the collective has since seen them depart and new female leaders take up the reins. Active curators currently include Samantha Blumenfeld, Kaleena Carter, Gigi Arredondo and Tina Laskowski.
The collective also hosts regular events including Electric Cinema, a bimonthly screening series. They also curate and organize various other exhibitions, concerts and art events. MAYFLY is also co-hosted by artist MISS BAIK.
MAYFLY XVI will be held at Art Direct Outlet in Mullae-dong, an area becoming more and more popular for artist studios and residences. There is no entrance fee and the artists will hold a talk at 7:00 p.m. Visit
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