Chapter 122: CH 122

Lee Inho fumbled his memory. 

After covering Ko Hoon, he was able to remember the names of artists quickly thanks to his steady digestion of news about the art world. 

“Isn’t he the one who made [Tilted arc]?” 1) 

Jang Mirae was surprised when Lee Inho, who did not even recognize her last year, mentioned Richard Serra’s representative work. 

“That’s right,” 

She told the story, recalling the past. 

“I think it was when I was a sophomore in college. There was a lot of talk about [Shoes Tree] displayed in Seoul Station Square.” 

“Oh, I remember.” 

Lee Inho responded. 

In 2017, a work called [Shoes Tree] was on display at Seoul Station Square in Seoul came to his mind.2)

“Teacher took the students there for the lecture and watched it together.”  

Lee Inho reacted moderately and induced Jang Mirae to continue the story. 

“In the next class, he asked us to talk about Richard Serra’s [Tilted arc]. We wondered why he showed us [Shoes Tree] for this class and why asking us to talk about some other work.” 

Lee Inho tilted his head. 

“What’s the connection between the two?” 

“It’s probably the most controversial work when talking about public art.” 

Lee Inho nodded and responded, 

“He talked for about two hours in that class.” 

Jang Mirae, who recalled the incident, burst into laughter. 

“It wasn’t an easy problem and now I look at it differently, compared to the immature me at that time.” 

“Hmmm…” 

“Richard Serra’s [Tilted arc] was really controversial when it was first installed. It was uncomfortable because the people couldn’t cross the square and went back.” 

“That’s right,” 

Lee Inho nodded. 

Anyone would feel uncomfortable when one day suddenly a 37m wide wall was created on the road they used to commute.

“People even cursed looking at the artwork. As if it’s not enough to buy scrap metal for $170,000 using their taxes, they placed it in a place that disturbs their daily life. ” 

Lee Inho bit his lip. 

[Tilted arc] he knew was a 1980s work. 

At that time, $170,000 was never a small amount. 

As of 2028, the value of money will be six to seven times.

Reporter Lee Inho didn’t understand why they had to spend so much money to install scrap barriers. 

However, he thought Jang Mirae, an artist would know the meaning, and he only nodded because he thought there was no need to deliberately reveal his insufficient knowledge. 

“The first student who raised his hand said, the reason why the citizens complained is reasonable since it was their money which was taken as taxes were spent on useless things.”  

It was hard to think that it was the remarks of a college student at the art school. 

“It was a free discussion, so the counterargument followed immediately saying that there sure would be some people who paid the taxes liked the work and don’t they have the right to enjoy the work?” 

“Well.” 

As the story seemed to be long, Lee Inho put down his pen and listened to Jang Mirae’s words. 

The recorder was working silently. 

“Another student stepped up and said that since the jury at the hearing gave judgment in favor of the citizens and [Tilted arc] was removed, hence it was a failure of Richard Serra, who was not chosen by the public.” 

Lee Inho was surprised. 

“An art student said that.” 

“Yes, since each one had various thoughts.” 

Jang Mirae drank a sip of coffee and continued the story. 

“Someone said that it wasn’t made for understanding in the first place, and what prevents an artist from making and installing a work is violence.”

Lee Inho narrowed his eyes and fell into thought. 

It wasn’t wrong. 

He thought it was the artist’s freedom to install artworks when asked to work. 

“It was disgusting.” 

“What?” 

“I mean, the words ‘it’s not made for understanding in the first place’.” 

Jang Mirae shrugged calmly. 

“I’ll tell you first that I’m not talking about Richard Serra or [Shoes Tree].”

She said that ahead since she didn’t want the article to be written in a distorted manner.

“Yes, don’t worry.” 

“Did you know that there’s a rule, where in front of a large building that requires a certain amount of construction cost, some cost should be spent on installing works of art?” 

“I’ve heard of it.” 

“The same goes for $170,000 in the [Tilted arc]. The Federal Procurement Service commissioned Richard Serra” 

“Oh.” 

“At that time for me, it sounded like they were thinking of the fence that the law had secured as their home. I thought they were out of their minds.” 

Jang Mirae tilted her head as she saw Lee Inho lost in thought. 

“Oh, I thought you’d talk about whether the [Tilted arc] is right or the public’s view is right.” 

Jang Mirae nodded as if she understood. 

” I thought the citizens’ opinions were right at the time, but now I don’t know what the answer is.” 

“Keep talking,” 

Lee Inho picked up his pen. 

“At that time, I just shot back how an artist doesn’t think about capturing the public and just thinking about eating the set amount of money.” 

Lee Inho rubbed his chin and asked a question. 

“In fact, modern art, that is, contemporary art is difficult for most people. It’s kind of like their own world.” 

“That’s right.” 

“So I think it’s more fascinating to see a professor who thinks about capturing the public? What’s your view on this?” 

Jang Mirae answered without hesitation. 

“It’s true that contemporary art has that image and actually functions like that. They think they are doing Pure art, but well, I don’t think the art of this era is that simple.” 

“It’s about livelihood, right?” 

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“Yes, because you have to sell your work to live as a full-time artist, while understanding and empathy are natural, it’s a far cry from what they call Pure art.” 

“So you don’t think you’re a contemporary artist? Maybe, a commercial artist.” 

Jang Mirae smiled and shook her head. 

“As I said earlier, I think that the art of this era is not that simple.  The distinction between commercial art when selling works and contemporary art when pursuing Pure art is not correct. To put it bluntly, contemporary art is a constant reciprocating phenomenon between novelty, criticality and commercial exhaustion.” 

Lee Inho clenched his chin and organized his thoughts. 

“You mean, contemporary art doesn’t mean that all works are pure. Commercial art is also contemporary art.” 

“Yes.” 

Jang Mirae emptied her glass. 

“Coming back. I think it’s important how the creator acts. To illustrate the [Tilted arc] for example, his logic was not wrong.” 

Jang Mirae quoted Richard Serra. 

“The audience recognizes themselves and their movements across the square. The sculpture changes as the audience moves. The contraction and expansion of the sculpture is the result of the audience’s movement.”  

“It was a wonderful attempt. He turned the square into a new space. He tried to give a new impression to the people who use it. By the way, would people want that?” 

“If they did, it wouldn’t have been demolished.” 

“That’s what I wanted to say. Richard Serra only did his art, but at the same time violated the freedom of those who used the Square.” 

“Hmm.” 

“There are a lot of people who stands up for him and support him. Especially among the people who work here. They say they don’t want the understanding of people. The same goes for the student who said Artists should not create art by lowering it to match people’s understanding.” 

“Hmm.” 

“They claim that their freedom of expression has been suppressed, and they even point to public ignorance.”

“That’s…” 

“They say that the public is uneducated, they’re not patient, and they’re going to accept this artistic sense one day while adding that the former impressionists were not recognized and were loved only in later generations.” 

Lee Inho’s head became complicated. 

Certainly, it was because great geniuses who were a step ahead of their time came to mind. 

“They’re saying that while cleverly removing certain parts from the facts. It is said that the Impressionists were later loved, but in the end, Manet and Monet were greatly loved for their artistic qualities in their lifetime.” 

“What’s the difference?” 

“Impressionists were against the establishment, and they treated the masses.”

Jang Mirae said after a small pause. 

“People who ask the public to wait and think they are ahead of time are completely misunderstanding one thing. It’s the public who completes art.” 

Lee Inho tried not to miss any of Jang Mirae’s words. 

“The esoteric way of expression that even docents and curators can’t really explain it unless the author speaks. Can we say that the discourse that takes place only when the artist comes forward is like the Impressionists who fought against the great power? They drew new values from people’s lives against the mainstream by painting traditional folk paintings. Eventually, the public recognized them.” 

Jang Mirae took her breath while pouring out her words. 

Lee Inho checked the LCD, hoping that the recorder was performing properly. 

“I don’t know if you know, but there were several irregularities in the current art world.” 

“I have read it in articles.” 

Jang Mirae smiled bitterly. 

After shooting back at the student who said art was not an act of wanting to understand, Jang Mirae belatedly realized that the student was the daughter of the president of the art association. 

Jang Mirae said that the art world’s leading artists, associations, and critics now form another cartel. 

They were wary of receiving national budgets by doing their own art, but they were angry when a student at an art university agreed to it. 

“That’s what I thought at the time.” 

“What?” 

“What?” 

“Oh, no. continue.” 

Lee Inho, who was dizzy because he heard so much, managed to get his head together.

“I changed my mind a little after listening to Teacher’s story.” 

Jang Mirae smiled and continued the story. 

“I came to know that the Art world is not filled with only those people, and there were a lot of hard-working artists out there.” 

“Can you name some?” 

“If I pick from famous people, there’s Ferdinando Gonzalez or Henry Marceau. And, there are many people in our country who are trying to communicate in their own way. The problem is the associations, critics, and people who were parasitic on them. They’re going to have a monopoly on the cultural promotion budget.” 

“Haha.” 

“I was talking about the [Shoes tree], but as far as I know, the person who installed it worked without pay. She spent her own money for installations.” 

“Oh.” 

“You can criticize that and you can express your discomfort. But at least I’ve been thinking about it since I found out that the [Tilted arc] and [Shoes Tree] are far from the absurdity I thought they would be. I wondered if there could be a public art that would satisfy everyone.” 

“Is there?” 

“I don’t know.” 

Jang Mirae pondered. 

“There may be, but I think it’s a matter of freedom. And right now, I can’t fully answer the concept of freedom. This made me scared to teach students.” 

“Haha.” 

Lee Inho laughed at Jang Mirae’s honest answer. 

Rather than hastily concluding a problem that no one knows the answer to, it felt more amazing that she thought about it for 10 years. 

“Do you know a book called On Liberty?” 

“No.” 

“This book was written by a man named John Stuart Mill, and he was very concerned about freedom. He made no conclusions in the book, but he said that at least there are freedoms that must not be infringed upon.”

Lee Inho showed interest by tilting his upper body. 

“He said that freedom of thought, freedom of taste, freedom of association should not be violated by anyone.” 

“That’s true.” 

“Yes, the problem is that this is also possible as long as it doesn’t violate someone’s freedom. You can think of it, but as soon as you express it as a work of art, words, or writing, there’s a conflict of interest. Like a [Tilted arc].” 

“……….”

“It’s hard for a reporter to hear, right?” 

“I don’t think I can write it in an article. It might infringe on someone’s freedom.” 

The two laughed quietly. 

TRIVIA

1)[Tilted arc]

It is a large art piece installed at Manhattan Federal Plaza in New York City between 1981 and 1989. It was about 37 meters wide, 3.7 meters long, and 6.4 centimeters thick. Separating the square raised a new awareness of the familiar space. It cost $175,000 to produce. 

2)[Shoes Tree], Hwang Ji-hae, 2017 

Exhibited from May 20 to 28, 2017, is an installation and sculpture art with a length of about 100m, a height of about 17m, and a thickness of about 2.5m.

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