Decorative item
Heterotopia of Manor
Heterotopia of Manor
Heterotopia of Manor Print, Installation, Performance 2018 A heterotopia represents a space that does not pertain to a single place. Disparate elements gather and mingle to remove the conventional. Rules and pre-existing notions are changed to create a new space and conceptions. This exhibition establishes a diverse heterotopia in the middle of Seoul by bringing a unique vibe to familiar hotel space. The metaphysical border between the medieval and modern is blurred: creating new meaning through artworks of various genres. The two-dimensional work, three-dimensional performance, and other unique works share a single space to create space anew. We invite you to <Heterotopia of Manor> to escape the daily routine and experience the joys of metamorphosis in a space of new interactions. Existential Dissonance One can describe Ellen Justus’s work as the coexistence of opposing forces. Her work melds a melancholic stillness with the dynamism of kinetic lines that guard the very space with ubiquity. In doing so, there is contrasting melancholia with an opposite force symbolic of life. The coalescence of impossibilities is representative of a heterotopia. The gathering of contradictions on a single surface gives rise to irony and fascination. Blight Ⅱ Woodcut on Hanji 84.8 x 184.6 cm Ellen Justus Existential Dissonance Cotton, suede 45x45cm 65x65cm Ellen Justus and Crown Goose Conceptual Deviation Although deceptively portrait-like, this is three-dimensional wire art. Treading the ambiguity between the actual (three-dimensional) and imaginary (two-dimensional), it takes a new form through the erasure of spatial rigidity. Highly dependent on perspective, this structure’s multidimensional reality may be non-existent. However, it contains within itself elements of a heterotopia. The overlap of the hotel and manor represent this conjoining of dimensions in a space that can be seen. Furthermore, it is more than a sleight of perspective, as viewers act as active participants of the changing dimensions and collective experience. Overlap of Meaning This bespoke bedding is composed of a gorgeous mix of feathers, gems, jewelry, fur, and golden fabric. It moves away from generic prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear) characteristics and replaces it with a contradictory elegance and extravagance—capturing the Manor as an haute couture symbol of desire. The coexistence of different spaces creates a heterotopia that is both ironic and subversive. Through the placement of objet d’art and fine refurbishing, this bespoke bedding offers a new perspective by redefining the bedroom. Informal Unfolding Contemporary dance pursues classical beauty but is distinct from the discipline required of balletic mastery. It does not have a formal structure and is highlighted by great freedom to express emotion. The manor reflects an almost fairy-tale like quality of the middle ages and is a space where classical beauty and structural discipline mingle as one. Sujin Lee’s performance is accompanied by objet d’art that wears the characteristics of a manor, and therefore nobility in the modern sense. The characteristics of contemporary dance contradict with the objet d’art on display to create this space of unique energy and temperament. Tension and laxity. Contraction and expansion. The repetition of movements at odds with the impending void of entropy represents a heterotopia: emulsification of ironies into a space that does not belong to any one structure.
