This exhibition was a first-time collaboration between the Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney and the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul (NMOCA), and was comprised of a two-part cultural exchange of art and ideas. The project highlighted the historical and ongoing connections between Australian and Korean art, showcasing works from the collections of both museums.
It was inspired by Nam June Paik’s 1976 visit to Sydney and the 1976 Biennale of Sydney, that included a group of important Korean artists. Tell Me Tell Me explores conceptual, fluxus and technological art being created in both Korea and Australia at that time and regional variations in both countries over three decades to the present day.
The exhibition also explored the idea of artists using recent art histories to influence new work and sculpture, installation and object-based art forms now under the weight of conceptualism.
The core of the exhibition comprised a significant collection of historical works by important artists from both countries, including Nam June Paik, Marr Grounds, Terry Reid, Noel Sheridan, Stelarc, Ken Unsworth, Moon-Seup Shim, Kang So-Lee, Insik Quac, Rosalie Gascoigne, Gaiyabidja Lalara, Don Gundinga and U-Fan Lee. The contemporary Australian and Korean artists featured include Brook Andrew, Louise Weaver, Nyapanyapa, Charlie Sofo, Brown Council, Lou Hubbard, Stuart Ringholt, TV Moore, Beom Kim, Park Chan Kyong, Haegue Yang, Kim Eull, Hyun Ki Park, Chung Seo-Young, Jooyeon Park.
Jointly curated by MCA Curator Glenn Barkley and NMOCA Curator Inhye Kim, the exhibition was held at the National Art School Gallery, Darlinghurst opening on 17 June 2011, before travelling to the NMOCA in Seoul where it was exhibited from 8 November 2011 to 19 February 2012.
Organized by:
National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea (NMOCA)
Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney (MCA)
Curated by:
Inhye Kim, Glenn Barkley
