Tearful Twist
2022
Multi-channel sound installation
5-minute loop
Dimensions variable
This work revives over twenty pieces of popular music that were legally banned in Korea from the 1940s to the 1990s. Popular songs, cherished by many, serve as mirrors reflecting the era, functioning as repositories of the collective sentiments of the time.
Throughout Korea’s history, from the Japanese occupation to the military dictatorship era, numerous songs were prohibited due to their political content or perceived misalignment with national ideologies. As a result, their promotion and performance were actively suppressed. This project revisits these forgotten songs, which were banned not for their musical or sonic attributes but for the political messages embedded in their lyrics, the social norms of their time, and the political affiliations of their composers.
To achieve this, segments that highlight the distinct musical characteristics of each song are excerpted, re-performed, and then re-placed onto the original timecodes. These fragmented sounds, now combined into a single song, are played through multiple speakers positioned in the exhibition space, revealing their sonic presence from diverse locations. In doing so, the work seeks to restore the musical significance of the songs, silenced by political forces beyond it.
(KR)
2022
Multi-channel sound installation
5-minute loop
Dimensions variable
This work revives over twenty pieces of popular music that were legally banned in Korea from the 1940s to the 1990s. Popular songs, cherished by many, serve as mirrors reflecting the era, functioning as repositories of the collective sentiments of the time.
Throughout Korea’s history, from the Japanese occupation to the military dictatorship era, numerous songs were prohibited due to their political content or perceived misalignment with national ideologies. As a result, their promotion and performance were actively suppressed. This project revisits these forgotten songs, which were banned not for their musical or sonic attributes but for the political messages embedded in their lyrics, the social norms of their time, and the political affiliations of their composers.
To achieve this, segments that highlight the distinct musical characteristics of each song are excerpted, re-performed, and then re-placed onto the original timecodes. These fragmented sounds, now combined into a single song, are played through multiple speakers positioned in the exhibition space, revealing their sonic presence from diverse locations. In doing so, the work seeks to restore the musical significance of the songs, silenced by political forces beyond it.
(KR)
#1-6 Installation View at SONGEUN, Seoul (Photo by Jihyun Jung)