IMAGINARY PLAYGROUND
Performance Installation and Intervention. Incheon, S. Korea (2016)

Imaginary Playground was an experiment in redefining the lived experience of an urban landscape. The work questions the prescribed uses of public space and the imaginary structures, borders, and rules that shape how communal landscapes are navigated, experienced, and shared.

The intervention took place in the Jung-gu area of Incheon, a city 36 km west of Seoul—a cultural locality where such artistic interventions were unprecedented. An installation of black fabric was first draped overnight throughout an area several blocks large, drawing symbolic interruptions that appropriated the existing structures, created new paths and obstructions, and at times altered how people moved and related to one another. The performance began at sunrise as the city awoke and the first pedestrians walked the streets, becoming part of the performance themselves. Five ‘imaginary pedestrian’ performers arrived one by one around this time, at separate locations throughout the landscape.

Approaching the environment as symbolic of the ideologies that ingrain everyday normalities and patterns, the work sought to challenge societal norms through a peaceful intervention, and thereby stimulate discussion with local residents. Care was taken not to block stores or cars on the street, and not to impose on people or prevent them from doing anything they would normally do. The public’s reaction was strong and varied. Some were indifferent, others curious. A few were immediately appreciative and understanding, while the majority of people responded with anger and fear. The scene became like a town hall, where locals expressed and debated their opinions. Although the police were personally supportive of the performance, about 2.5 hours in, after many complaints and two police reports, the piece came to a gentle end.

Concept and Artistic Direction: Grace Euna Kim
Performers: Seo Young Joo, Chung Wan Ho, Lee Wang Soo, Shin Hye Nam, Lee Jin Won
Production Assistants: Jee Jin Hyun, Kim Soo Hyun
Photos: Seione Jieun Kim, Min Jun Gi (1984)
Cooperation: Incheon Art Platform
Funding: Incheon Foundation for Arts & Culture. Incheon, S. Korea