Okin
Okin
International Grant Residency Programme Hangar-Seoul Art Space Geumcheon 2012
Period of residence: July – September 2012
Okin Collective is an artists’ group, which consists of Hwayong Kim, Shiu Jin, Joungmin Yi, named after Okin Apartment complex in Jongno-Gu, Seoul. In July 2009, a group of artists visited one of their colleagues who lived in the complex, which was set to be torn down soon. It was during this eviction process that they began exploring the tragedy surrounding the other tenants’ situation in the name of a redevelopment project, with traces of those who had already moved out from the complex still lingering. It was also a way of looking into how the historicity, speed and avaricious urban planning taking place in Seoul and damaging people’s lives. Thus, it was during this time when Okin Collective was formed.
In the midst of the city’s redevelopment project, no space is exempt from receiving “death sentences” out of the blue in the form of forced evictions and harassing situations. What Okin Collective considers most important is not raising the pros and cons of the redevelopment project, or even the specific interests of the community members, but rather in broadening people’s views and attitude about such incidents. Though the collective was started in one particular place, the activities of Okin Colletive center on remembering multiple “Okin”s which continue to take place all around Seoul even after Okin Apartments was torn down. This can be accomplished by exploring your city, being kind to others, carrying out your own research, taking part in entertainment activities, and tenderly bringing together art and everyday life. As a result, Okin Collective is still pursuing these activities which they are very concerned about.
okinapt(at)gmail.com
