SEOUL.- When we meet someone who looks different from us or thinks differently than we do, we naturally begin to wonder why. As we ask these questions, we begin to think about “difference.” Yet being different does not mean being wrong. When different people, ideas, and experiences come together, the world becomes richer and more colorful. Artist Kwon Byungjun dreams of such a world through “robots” and “sound.”
In 2017, people from Yemen arrived on Jeju Island, South Korea. They were refugees, people who had left home to escape war or danger. They had traveled a long way in search of a safe place to live. But not everyone welcomed them warmly. Some worried that their jobs or daily lives might become less secure and argued that the refugees should be sent away.
Looking at these people, Kwon Byungjun thought about “strangers.” A stranger is someone who is not easily accepted anywhere. Through the idea of the stranger, he asks important questions: Who are “we”? And how can we live together?
The artist creates robots that resemble humans but are not exactly the same. In the human world, they are like strangers. These robots are far from perfect. Even a single step or movement is difficult for them, and they constantly wobble as they move. In this way, they remind us of ourselves. Like us, they are imperfect, yet they continue moving forward.
Through these robots, Kwon Byungjun shares a simple but meaningful idea: When another being finds the courage to reach out a hand, we need the willingness to take that hand. We need hearts that can welcome strangers who are, in their own way, not so different from us.
Kwon Byungjun began his artistic journey through popular music. As he continued making music, he became increasingly interested in sound and later studied it in the Netherlands. He went on to create experimental electronic musical instruments and sought ways to share what he had learned with others. He organized workshops where people made instruments together and explored listening through sound. To this day, he remembers the many different sounds created by people of all ages, from children to adults.
The artist believes deeply in the power of sound. Because sound cannot be seen, it can travel freely and be experienced in many ways. If you close your eyes and listen carefully, a sound that seemed absent only moments ago may suddenly become clear. Through sound, Kwon brings together many different beings and experiences. Lullabies from distant countries, sounds from nature, and even sounds generated by artificial intelligence (AI) may seem unrelated when viewed with our eyes, yet through sound they come together naturally and harmoniously.
The exhibition title, "I Embrace You," comes from the artist’s song Deep in My Mind. In its lyrics, we hear the questions, “Who are you in my mind?” and “Who am I beside you?” These questions remind us that different beings are always curious about one another. They wonder, they ask, and they seek connection. Perhaps the answers are not far away at all. They may be found close to one another, within each other’s hearts and by each other’s side.
In the exhibition, robots open their arms and offer hugs. They may feel unfamiliar or even a little awkward at first. Yet they may also bring deeply warm moments. Listen to their sounds. Take one step closer to them. Like a gentle embrace, these beings draw us into a shared sense of “we.”
Curated by Han Noori (Curator, Buk SeMA), with Choi Eunchong (Exhibition Coordinator, Buk SeMA).
1,534 Embraces
Throughout the exhibition, the robots will present a total of 1,534 performances. Please refer to the schedule below and experience the ensemble of movements and sounds they create together: Tuesday–Thursday 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm / Friday 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm / Saturday–Sunday, public holidays 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 5pm. Each performance lasts about 10 minutes.
Easy Read
This Children+ Exhibition Kwon Byungjun: I Embrace You features a special junior docent. Discover the Easy Read Guide by our junior docent in the online leaflets.
