Isabelle Kim: Before-class task

Blue Stains - 2018

A small project composed in the preliminary year of high school, although incomplete, my artwork Blue Stains critiques how the ignorance of global society contributes towards the transiency of oppressive history by addressing the fragile and politically dividing issue of comfort women. A controversial, unresolved topic, it remains at the core of the tension between Korea and Japan, with many high-profile politicians stating and recognising these wartime sex slaves as cases of prostitution. Therefore, my portrait of a comfort woman seeks to expose the confrontational and offensive nature of truth when encountered by the denials of the Japanese government and the indifference of our Westernised society.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)

Considered as the most eccentric and iconic establishment within Korea's architectural scope, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), situated at the centre of Dongdaemun, boasts of a prominent neo-futuristic design, which enhances the experiences associated with the amalgamation of historical culture and contemporary trends. Designed by Zaha Hadid, its conceptual framework as a “Metonymic Landscape” recognises the significance of the flexibility of space and elongation of structure to support Seoul’s largest fashion and cultural nucleus. As the DDP consists of exhibition halls, as well as design museums, labs and markets which hosts many conventions, fashion shows and performances, the attention to features such as solar panels and recycling water systems ensures sustainability and ecological balance.

Text reads: It's okay to rest here, Haneul Park

This photograph was taken at Haneul Park in Korea during my post-HSC trip, and promulgates how an increasingly fast-paced, globalised society has developed an impatient and immediate social culture that desires an alleviation from materialistic concerns and formation of meaningful relationships. Through my engagement with the sublime, open landscapes ironically provided by one of the world's leading nation in technological innovations, I was able to recognise how the stimulation of empathy and understanding often requires a rejection of superficial connections offered by technology.

Khyzyl Saleem