Geumhyung Joeng at The Ryder

Artist: Geumhyung Joeng

Exhibition title: On Tour London / Madrid

Curated by: Rafa Barber Cortell

Venue: The Ryder, Madrid, Spain and London, UK

Date: September 29 – November 9, 2019 (London); October 9 – November 30, 2019 (Madrid)

Photography: All images copyright and courtesy of the artist and The Ryder, Madrid/London

The RYDER is pleased to present ON TOUR London/Madrid, a project by the Korean artist Geumhyung Jeong.

Artist and choreographer trained in dance and theatre, Geumhyung Jeong’s work explores the relationship between the body and the objects surrounding it. She understands these objects as almost-human relating to them with care and sensuality. For ON TOUR London/Madrid, the artist has researched on the concept of performance and its capacity to activate spaces, objects and audiences. These projects will exist in two different places at once using time, space and the presence/absence of the artist as allies to create a subtle narration. While in London she will approach performance as an atmosphere generator that facilitates moments of intimacy with the audience, Madrid will emphasise on the action and its ability to activate objects and provide them with new meaning.

Geumhyung Jeong (Seúl, 1980), Jeong studied Acting at Hoseo University in Asán, dance and performance at the Korean National University of Arts en Seoul and animation at the Korean Academy of Film Arts in Seoul. In 2019 presents Homemade RC Toy at Kunsthalle Basel after introducing her performance 7 Ways at Tate Modern, London and finishing her residence at Delfina Foundation, London. Among her exhibitions is The promise of total automation at Kunsthalle Wien, Viena and The beast and the sovereign, MACBA, Barcelona.

ON TOUR London

The Air of That Time is a video installation that will be presented in London for the first time. Its tittle is inspired by a collective and intangible memory, the special air created within the audience when the performance is happening. Jeong explores the obsolescence of performance and the anxiety produced when trying to capture that moment -almost ritualistic- when visitors detach from their virtual self to form a collective body. Likewise, this installation approaches objects as non-human devices capable of implementing their own momentum. To do so, Jeong displays a series of digital broadcasting elements that act as catalysts of her absent body. Despite these objects playing various visual sequences, all together, they orchestrate an artificial air that affects and relates with the audience.

The lecture-performance Product Review: Human shaped punching bag pro 2500 acts as an interlude for the two stages of ON TOUR London/ Madrid. Humorous and strange at the same time, this lecture-performance stages Jeong’s approach towards user communities, showcasing the misunderstandings created when one tries to shift the common use of an object.

Geumhyung Joeng, The Air of That Time, 2019, exhibition view, The Ryder, London, 29th September – 9th November 2019

ON TOUR Madrid

Spa & Beauty Madrid is Geumhyung Jeong’s first solo exhibition in Spain. This project investigates the relationship body-object, taking inspiration from the industry of beauty and body care products. Soaps, sponges, creams and all the objects that touch our body on a daily basis inspire Jeong to create a disconcerting display. Familiar objects as plastic bathtubs or brushes are carefully manipulated to become something else, creating a bizarre spa whose objects directly engage with the audience’s body. The relationship object-user is questioned, creating a narrative that invites to reconsider ideas on beauty, intimacy and consumption. These group of artefacts will be activated through a series of demonstrations conducted by the artist to share with the audience her particular way of using them, bringing into play her body to illustrate the benefits of the sprays, the wonders of plastic and the pleasure of consuming and touching.

Geumhyung Joeng, Spa & Beauty Madrid, 2019, exhibition view, The Ryder, Madrid, 9th October – 30th November 2019