SIGHTINGS 2022-2024
SEE FEVER
Launched in 2012 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery’s Permanent Collection, the SIGHTINGS satellite exhibition program was conceived as an experimental platform to critically reflect upon the possibilities and limitations of the modernist “white cube.” As part of this program, artists and curators are invited to develop projects for a cubic display unit located in a public space at the university, with the aim of generating new strategies for art dissemination.
This fall, the Gallery launches a multi-year cycle focusing on the theme SEE FEVER. The expression refers to a fervent desire to “see everything,” the lure of strategies that aim to see “more” or “further,” and to contexts that widen our field of vision or destabilize our perceptual mechanisms. Reflecting this theme, the SIGHTINGS cube is envisaged as a raised observation platform whose four transparent walls provide a 360-degree view. Projects will examine the viewing subject’s perceptual and psychic experience when presented with a wide-angle perspective, the search for the panoramic view and the horizon, and the optical apparatuses and technologies that permit the augmentation, enhancement, and disorientation of vision’s spatial logic.
SIGHTINGS is located on the ground floor of the Hall Building: 1455, blvd. De Maisonneuve West and is accessible weekdays and weekends from 7 am to 11 pm. The program is developed by Julia Eilers Smith.
I am no longer waves
Jin Heewoong, a Korean artist residing in Montreal, navigates the spectrum of visibility in the ordinary. Working with found objects and everyday materials, he creates sculptures, installations, and narrative-driven videos that unravel the intricate hues of displacement and belongingness. Integrating personal text and footage, his works transform the mundane into a symphonic arrangement of objects, inviting viewers to explore the concealed layers of our own experience. Jin’s works have been exhibited at MAI (CAN, 2023), Maison de la culture Janine-Sutto (CAN, 2022), Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery (CAN, 2022), Peripheral Hours (CAN, 2019), Cheongju International Craft Biennale (KOR, 2017), Real DMZ project, and Art Sonje Center (KOR, 2015). He co-founded Quite Ourselves, a collective promoting independence, experimentation, and ‘sustainable mobility’ for minority artists in Mooniyang/Tiohtià:ke/Montreal.
Installation, synchronized two-channel video (4k transferred to HD videos, colour, sound, 5 min. 55 sec. on loop), vinyl prints, and wood, 2023
Embark on a journey that started with the serene contemplation of ocean wave imagery, leading to the discovery of hidden narratives. The catalyst was an ordinary picture, encased in a simple Dollarama frame, destined for swift disposal. However, over time, this tranquil image gained a compelling allure, sparking questions that echoed far beyond its initial appearance.
Imagine fixing your gaze upon these waves, a calm depiction poised to recede into obscurity. Where did this image originate? Who captured its fleeting moment? And how did it find its place on the shelves of a budget-friendly store? What began as a casual inquiry evolved into an exploration of the intricate interplay between the digital realm and the constant yearning for comprehension and connection.
In our contemporary digital age, our pursuit of answers often steers us through the limitless corridors of the internet. Interactions are increasingly channeled through AI-powered customer services, leaving our queries impersonal and generic. Amid technological convenience, the authenticity of genuine human connection can feel elusive. This sentiment remains as the tides of technological advancement continue.
My quest for answers extended beyond phone calls, emails, and online research. Through persistence, I was able to trace the image’s origins within Adobe Stock’s vast digital archive—a repository teeming with images waiting to tell their stories. Upon uncovering the photograph, I also found its enigmatic creator: Andrey Amyagov. With hopes of initiating a dialogue that could illuminate the journey of this image, I contacted Amyagov. But our connection proved fleeting, and his responses left me even more intrigued.
I came to realize at this stage of the process that the absence of direct human interaction shouldn’t have to impede the evolution of the narrative. In the absence of a tangible connection, I allowed artificial intelligence to take the lead, weaving a tale akin to the digital unveiling of stock imagery.
I am no longer waves is a testament to transformation and innate curiosity, reshaping an image once discarded into a vessel for storytelling. It intertwines the threads of human connection and algorithmic intricacies, encapsulating personal narratives within digital abstraction.
The project extends beyond pixels and dialogues, evolving into a sculptural entity housed within the Sightings cube. I am no longer waves invites immersion in a narrative odyssey that bridges the gap between discarded images and automated responses, and seeks to harmonize the digital with the profoundly human.
Jin Heewoong, a Korean artist residing in Montreal, navigates the spectrum of visibility in the ordinary. Working with found objects and everyday materials, he creates sculptures, installations, and narrative-driven videos that unravel the intricate hues of displacement and belongingness. Integrating personal text and footage, his works transform the mundane into a symphonic arrangement of objects, inviting viewers to explore the concealed layers of our own experience. Jin’s works have been exhibited at MAI (CAN, 2023), Maison de la culture Janine-Sutto (CAN, 2022), Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery (CAN, 2022), Peripheral Hours (CAN, 2019), Cheongju International Craft Biennale (KOR, 2017), Real DMZ project, and Art Sonje Center (KOR, 2015). He co-founded Quite Ourselves, a collective promoting independence, experimentation, and ‘sustainable mobility’ for minority artists in Mooniyang/Tiohtià:ke/Montreal.
The artist wishes to thank Julia Eilers Smith, Michèle Thériault, Hugues Dugas, Kevin Park Jung-Hoo, Alli Melanson, Andrey Armyagov and the Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery.