Magic Loop, 2023

14 July — 28 July 2023, Gallery Philosophie, Seoul

 

Magic Loop (2023) introduces and shares Seohee Kim’s key artistic practice of “clothes making” as a continuation of the performance Magic Loop (2022) held at Gallery Philosophy in the summer of 2022. In order to share the unrefined research process related to practical clothing making, aesthetic taste, and the extension of the act of wearing, the exhibition invites audiences to participate in “clothing making” as collaborators. In a space reminiscent of a showroom, unfinished garments by Sehikyo are displayed alongside tags containing brief descriptions of the clothes. Participants select a garment during their visit and continue the process of clothing making at their workstations, using provided materials to engage in techniques such as hand stitching, patchwork, knitting, and embroidery, excluding cutting. The next participant can build upon the work of the previous one, and non-participating viewers have the opportunity to observe the continuous process of clothing making. Hereby, the exhibition space showcases the evolving garments as participants contribute to their creation.

Seohee Kim investigates the intersection of the fashion industry and our daily lives, exploring how individuals pursue authenticity in society. In an environment driven by media narratives and the pressure to conform to carefully crafted ideals, making independent value judgments is no easy task. Amidst this dissonance, a fundamental question arises: How can we engage in genuine dialogue amidst the multitude of voices? 

While fashion is praised as a strong means of expression that can transcend social norms, it also casts a shadow on our deepest existential motives due to the primal desire to distinguish individual from others. Within this intricate tapestry, authenticity reflects both the ephemeral trends and the ever-evolving dynamism of the fashion world. The values that the public passionately embraces circulate through individual filters and temporarily take the form of individuality. 

Seohee Kim’s exploration is activated at the intersection where the transience of fashion converges with the pursuit of independent choice and sincerity. Incorporating an exploration of the artistic realm to view fashion from a meta-perspective, Seohee Kim intentionally removes the fixed meaning—particularly those commercialised—associated with clothes within the realm of fashion through artistic experimentation and extends the role of clothes by embracing clothes that transform along with the traces of deformation, discolouration, and wear. Additionally, mending embodies a unique complexity rooted in various concepts intertwined between clothes and fashion. The act of repairing and transforming clothes within the artistic practice reflects the courage required to merge one’s thoughts with others and assert authenticity in society. 

Seohee Kim embraces the Do-it-yourself (DIY) approach as an artistic practice, expressing subjectivity and exploring the potential for individuals to embrace their unique perspectives and independent choices through collaborative projects with participants. At the core of this collaborative process lies the blurring of boundaries between host and collaborator in the realm of costume creation and wearing. In doing so, Kim seeks to explore the role of clothing in the fashion industry by continuously questioning the dominant consumer culture surrounding clothing. Through this process, individuals transcend the monotony of conformity, actively explore their identities, and ultimately reflect on the possibility of embracing and sharing their authenticity with clothes at the centre.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caption tag 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Coffee dress

 

 Lace dress

 

A garments with heels 

Trousers being mended 

 

 

Shirring Shirt

 

Underma dress

 

A quilting bee Dress

 

Panti-legs skirt

Decorative Pullover

 

 A guest book T-shirt

 

Magic Loop T-shirt

 

Botanical T-shirt 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Participants: 

Coffee dress 
Moonju Jeong @jeongdaljoooo
Hwiyeop Kim @hwiyeop_
Danbi Kim @dxarchive
Jaehui Kim @xerocokeboy
Eunji Hong @Emma.whynot_
Seonha Oh @fa_sseon_er
Mina Lee @namiyi_

Panti-legs skirt
Hyunjun Koh @gohyunzun
Juhee Son @zuh22ing
Yeongjin Ki @ki_y_j_13
Dayeon Yoo @whit.eeg
Jieun Lee @leejayeun
Somin Jeon @s0mni_is
Chaeyoon Lee @c.yooon

Botanical T-shirt
Hyunjoon Choi @choehyunjoon
Hyerim Kim @hy2r2m
Jimin Kim @zimyn
Minji Kim @arewetalkingaboutlife
Jihye Jeong @ppnyangnyaong

Lace Dress
Jieun Lee @r00j00ra
Sejin Park @seizellite
Jiwon Choi @jiwoniese
Dahyun Kang @e._kgus
Hye-eun Oh @ohennny
Sohyun Kim @sottoppyy

Decorative Pullover
Dahyun Lee @_daryldix_
Chansong Oh @co1dsong
Yeseong Yoon 
Haedeun Yang @_haedeun

A garment with heels
Seongju Kang @gemmaartshop
Hyunseo Kwak @hyumthekwak
Jeongyeon Ha @hagdnidana

Magic Loop T-shirt
Yurim Kim @ryurimqe
Changjun Park @badaharri

Shirring Shirt
Seulki Park @what__the__box

A guest book T-shirt
Seohyun Lee @seohnleee
Eunhye Lee @leeenhy

A quilting bee Dress
Seolyeon Park @seolyeonpakr
Eunyeong Hur
Eunhoo Song
Seohyun Kim @ppssnmrtt

Trousers being mended 
Myeongjin Lee 
Suhyun Park @shuai_s2_

Underma Dress 
Seongwon Kong @bosccono_kong
Eunsol Lee @sol2u
Jihye Kim @augustdldbr
Yuri Oh @db_._fl @3722l2

Jeongwon Seo @grdnseo
Yoonjung Woo @sonyo.yoon
Yoonjung Kwak 


Graphic Design: Minjong Kim
Photo: Seoyoung Kim
Video: Deokju Kim  

Supported by Gallery Philosophie, Seoul