“place, memory & identity: contemporary Korean-American women artists” 

The Wofford Art Museum opened a new exhibit to the public on Sept. 1, called “place, memory & identity: contemporary Korean-American women artists.” Through Wofford’s partnership with the Johnson Collection, located in downtown Spartanburg, the college is able to circulate through different art pieces during the course of the year. 

As the museum curator of the Richardson Family Art Museum, Youmi Efurd has been working diligently to make sure that the art displayed is relevant and educational. With the help of Wofford’s art and art history department, Efurd has been able to do just that by bringing the exhibit “place, memory & identity” to campus. 

This collection of works highlights the art of Jiha Moon, Kakyoung Lee and In Kyoung Chun. As three Korean-born, female artists that have moved to the United States, these women offer a new perspective and help viewers to understand a new story. This exhibit poses questions about where identity lies and what diversity looks like in art. 

From the temperature of the museum room to the way in which the art is displayed, there is much care that is put into making the exhibit the best that it can be. 

“This is contemporary work, so it is okay with a lot of light, but with traditional art like oil paintings, (the museum) is very dim and it’s very dark because light can affect the life of the artwork as well,” said Efurd.

The museum is also able to use an eclectic mix of mediums as well. This is especially prevalent in the work of Lee. In the “Barbed Wire Series,” Lee is able to display her flipbook animations through both monitors and projections. 

In order to help recreate the feeling of the barbed wire fences that Lee would see at the military base near her home in Korea, Efurd included real cinder blocks in the museum’s display.  

On top of that, Chun adds another three-dimensional aspect to the gallery through her emphasis on houses. She creates these houses out of a combination of mediums including acrylic and lights. These techniques can be seen in both the works of “Blue Rooftop House #1” and “Blue Gate.” 

Moon is able to add a light-hearted and bright mood to the gallery through her artwork. She uses a combination of prints, paintings and ceramic pieces that fill the exhibit. Her artworks combine contemporary culture with traditional materials and symbolism. 

When detailing the process behind Day for Night I, Efurd described the vibrance of Moon’s use of “very pop culture colors,” along with more traditional additions like the use of Hanji, a handmade Korean paper. 

Moon also leaves her mark on the gallery with Lucky Monster, Keep Calm and Carry On. With the bright yellow color that engulfs the viewer, this print is a focal point in the exhibit. 

“I helped Youmi install some of (the gallery) and as soon as I saw (Lucky Monster), I fell in love with it,” said Emma Humphries ‘22, one of the museum attendants.

This print, like Day for Night I, plays off the use of pop culture references like the famous “Warhol Banana,” while being centralized in traditional Korean symbolism like the tiger. 

The exhibit is open to everyone, and Efurd encourages more students to take advantage of the resource. 

“I want to change people’s perception of the museum,” Efurd said. 

For anyone interested in visiting this exhibit, it will be open until Dec. 15. There will also be a presentation by Chun and Moon on Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. hosted by the exhibit. Students will be able to interact with the artists during this event.