Since 2017, the Arts Council Korea and the Wanju Foundation for Arts & Culture have jointly conducted the “Wanju Artist Residency for a month” project each year. This initiative seeks to rejuvenate neglected spaces in Wanju County, where it has not been touched by human hands for an extended period and offers artists fifty days of residency and financial support. This endeavor catalyzes both community and artist revitalization. This year, a team called “This Life, That Life” joined the Wanju project to explore the fundamental questions surrounding “life and death”.

What Sparked Project of These Two Young Minds

“This Life, That Life” comprises two young individuals, Jung Seo-lin and Choi Hye-in. Their project began with a profound realization born from personal and societal experiences with death. They acknowledged the difficulties in accepting and digesting the concept of death, often seen as overwhelmingly tragic and painful. They questioned whether it was possible to foster positive experiences related to death within the bounds of human endurance. With these uncertainties and hopes as their driving force, they established their project team.

Jung, originally residing in Yongin City, embarked on her journey in January of this year. She started in Gokseong County and extended her stay to Andong City and Gangneung City, spending periods ranging from one to two months in each location. During her travels, she gained diverse experiences and developed the idea of creating a project centered around the theme of “life and death”. 

Her conviction for planning the project grew stronger in Andong City, leading her todedicate her time in Gangneung City to meticulous preparations for her project. “Originally, I was brainstorming a project related to death called ‘Death on Stage’. While exploring opportunities for its development, I came across the ‘Artist Residency in Wanju: A Month of Living’ announcement. Considering the offer of residency and the freedom to plan and execute my project, I found it a suitable match for my vision. I proposed the idea to Choi, and we decided to embark on this journey together,” Jung said. Thus, they teamed up, and “This Life, That Life” was born.

Choi, originally from Gimhae City, had been occupied with fulfilling her university graduation requirements before arriving in Wanju County. She commented, “I was intrigued by the prospect of interacting with people in a new location. The idea of living for fifty days in a new area fascinated me, and that’s why I decided to participate in the project.” Both of them said that the provided residency and support allowed them to wholeheartedly focus on realizing their project.

Symphony of Voices That Express Life and Death

Jung and Choi had to break new ground through their unique perspective, not considering themselves traditional artists. Their desire was to invite the community to participate in their project in Wanju. They aimed to shed light on “life and death” in the realm of public art, to lower the barriers for artistic expression. “Our role as planners was to create a platform where anyone, regardless of their background, could freely share their perspectives on life and death. We wanted to minimize constraints on the participants and act as facilitators to enable them to express themselves to the fullest,” they shared.

Jung and Choi started a project through Artist Residency in Wanju: A Month of Living project, and their project name is “Annotation on Life and Death”. It is divided into three parts: Annotation on Life, Annotation on Death, and Record of Thoughts. In Annotation on Life, the main program is the Late Night Book Club. It was carried out on August 8th, 10th, and 18th. The club members took the time to read a book of personal choice from 7 to 9 p.m. on the day of the program and then they talked about what they read. Jung said, “We dealt with the topics each of us wanted rather than just dealing with death. Mostly, the participants focused on life, our thoughts, and philosophy.” It progressed in their residency and their living room was almost entirely full of people when the club was held.

Masquerade Ball, the main theme of Annotation on Death, was like the finale of the project. “It had a better turn out from the performers and audience than we expected,” Jung said. About eighty people participated in this event. Jung and Choi made a ball theme to shed public persona and to encourage discussion of life and death. To participate in the ball, people had to meet the dress code: to wear black. Grand pieces of music and various booths were prepared. “Through the booths, we designed that visitors had pleasant experiences connected to life and death,” Jung stated.

Lastly, the Record of Thoughts segment is aimed at publishing their magazine containing all the activities of the project. It began in September after finishing the Annotation on Life and Annotation on Death.

Synergy in Contrast

“I remembered the moments when I felt Choi and I were
different people,” Jung said. When starting the project, they exchanged a diary to organize their ideas for making their magazine. They were able to better understand each other through the diary. Jung said, “I felt the role and importance of communication while working with Choi. She speaks straightforwardly and directly, while I mince words and speak indirectly. Her words were helpful when we needed to finish work quickly and understand abstract concepts.” Choi mentioned that she puts much value on efficiency while Jung pursues sincerity. Due to this difference, Choi had to put more consideration into things than she did before working with Jung. It was difficult work, but when looking at the results, Choi realized why she had to pay attention to the details.

They still can’t imagine their future, just as they couldn’t imagine working together. Nevertheless, they said that they will not forget to treat life with sincerity and to take their journey step by step. Their journey in Wanju may be over, but you will be able to experience their project through their magazine.

| Kim Doe-hye, Jo Soo-jin Reporters