Bolim Jeon

Bolim JEON is a multidisciplinary artist and communication designer, researching the everyday life we take for granted and questioning human subjectivity.

After earning a BA in Broadcasting and Film and a BBA in Business Administration at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, she worked in corporate communications.

Inspired by her own experiences, she pursues experimental approaches to depicting modern society, critically examining social structures, power, and relationships from the perspectives of mass communication, sociology, and philosophy.

Using diverse forms of expression, including moving image, writing, and installations, she designs physical and digital artefacts to foster ongoing conversations about social problems.

Co-Founder/Marketing @opening_magazine

I started 'OPENING' project as a Team DOMO to introduce UK based Korean artists, and bridge the gap between the public and artists.

Exhibitions / Selected Works

2021 RCA Satellite event IED BEEP BEEP

2021 Dead Social, GODÒ galerija, Lithuania

2020 Nobudam IV 'HOME'

2020 London International Creative Competition Official Selection

Questioning social norms and reviving under-recognized or underappreciated trivial moments in everyday life are central to my practice, as I believe that everyday routines accumulate to shape me, us, and our society as a whole.

“In the belly of a whale”, my most recent investigation, is a research-led practice and a collection of experiments. It suggests a combination of installation and performance as a vehicle to deliver words and ideas in commuting spaces. I explore our relationship to mundane spaces and seek alternative possibilities that might arise in them.

From its very nature, a commute is a large bundle of social elements: social commitments to work, fixed times and spaces for travelling, and moments wherein we socialize with strangers. Visible and invisible location-based cues constantly guide us, including signages, advertisements, announcements in the carriage, and socially accepted ‘common-sense’ that sets the mutual mood of a commute. These social aspects impose particular characteristics of collective self-regulation and alienation in commuting spaces.

These spaces contain quietness, indifference, daydreams, endurance, and idleness.

So, we know of individuals who do not feel, think, or act but are rather on autopilot mode. However, each of us has a differentiated experience with our own personal context. Paying attention to the personal experience is essential to effectively engage with our surroundings and ultimately to establish the individual self, not an automated self.

By reoccupying these spaces and reflecting on the individuals’ stories, this project aims to reimagine an alternative relationship between agents and spaces. It will make urban commuters aware of their surroundings and their own experiences that have been overlooked and help them open up conversations about commuting.

Through the Covid era, we observed radical changes in our commutes and commuting spaces. Taking it as a break from the daily practice and a chance to seek different possibilities rather than going back to the ‘normal’ in everyday spaces.

A personalised space — A personalised space — Conducting a series of experiments in commuting spaces, I encountered the active ignorance of commuters. I interpreted it as one of the key components of commuting spaces and spatial practice. I decided to create a personal space embodying ignorance, indifference and alienation.

A personalised space — Manifesting the personal space and personal narratives in the middle of the public space, it is still following the social consensus like train time, rules, and etiquette. With this irony, it is questioning the boundaries between social and individual self, discipline and spontaneity, and normality and abnormality of commuting.

A personalised space — photo credits: Johann Spindler

Medium:

Mixed media installation, Performance

In Collaboration with:

Writer: Gertrude Gibbons

Gertrude Gibbons is a graduate of RCA MA Writing. Thanks to Gertrude's interpretation and brilliant creation, interview quotes and tube announcements turned into an intriguing writing piece.

Photographer: Johann Spindler

Johann Spindler is a photographer and visual communication designer studying at RCA MA Visual communication. With his talented photography skill and supportive manner, photos can capture the isolated, indifferent feeling in spaces. He always let this project go further.

RCA Metal

Thank you for this amazing team to help me out building the metal frame.

Launch Project

Experimental drawings — To examine physical aspects of commuting spaces, I created experimental drawings with hanging pens in London underground and bus. Repetitive rhythms of arriving and departure, trembling floor and wall, and swinging cars. These are often neglected since it is what we already get used to and take for granted.

Drawings // Scores — As I marked the position of a pen at every stop, it captured residue of movements and composite scores.

Drawings — While visualising the physical movements, I reoccupy commuting spaces by playing with them and using them as my drawing tools instead of being carried away by them, ignoring the rattle, trying to avoid noise, and reading all advertisements and campaigns.

Medium:

Installation in London tube & bus

Drawings everyday space experimental Performative object transportation

Text-based practice — This text-based installation shaped like objects in commuting spaces is to reflect personal narratives in commuting spaces that are socially constructed.

Medium:

Print, Installation in tube

In Collaboration with:

Writer: Gertrude Gibbons

Creative writing experimental installation Public engagement public installation Spatial Experience text-based

With a three-dimensional digital space consisting of text, I experiment with spotlighting individuals’ experiences, the tension between the individual and society, and liminality in commuting spaces.

Medium:

Moving image, 3d rendered - 360 video

In Collaboration with:

Sound Designer: Shangyun Wu

Shangyun Wu is a student at MA Information Experience Design. She is an expert in sound design and here, her sound delivers atmosphere in commuting spaces and its liminality as well as a sense of control on the space. From my collection of recordings from Seoul and London, she composed sound in the moving image.

Writer: Gertrude Gibbons

3D Animation 3D models commute commuting digital space everyday space speculative space text-based

In Collaboration with:

Graphic Designer: Qi Hu

Qi Hu is a first-year student at RCA MA Information Experience Design. Thank you for her great understanding of the project and design.

Writer: Gertrude Gibbons

IED hotline extension number #225

HI! Let me know what you think!

If some thoughts about 'commuting' to your mind, that already makes this project go further.

To leave a comment or say anything nice about my work, please dial the free IED hotline number 020 39831592 or overseas +(44)2039831592. International calls cost subject to your operators' fees.

Talk

XD Spatial Practice: In Limine Symposium Friday 2 July 16:00 (GMT +0)

Communication

Bolim Jeon

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About

Royal College of Art