머리말들 / Prefaces

Prefaces is a simple project focused on collecting and preserving exhibition prefaces.

Curator(s)

Jieon Lee

Description

Prefaces is a project that gathers and archives exhibition prefaces, preserving the thoughts and insights often lost when exhibitions conclude. In contemporary art, exhibitions are created and taken down at an exponential rate, and with each exhibition, curators distill their focus, philosophies, or literary influences into prefaces that encapsulate the exhibition’s essence. However, most prefaces exist briefly on A4-sized paper, disappearing shortly after the exhibition ends. This project aims to collect these prefaces in one place, preserving their meaning and making them accessible over time.

Typically, prefaces are scattered across artists’ or curators’ personal websites or left in viewers’ personal collections. Prefaces brings these writings together, preserving them in bound volumes or searchable platforms, much like a library’s digital archive. This platform is built around specific guidelines:

Content is text-only, with no images.
Fictional or imagined prefaces are also included.
Past, present, and future exhibition prefaces can all be searched.
Only the full text of prefaces (not promotional or press materials) is accepted. These guidelines will be continuously updated, encouraging new perspectives on exhibitions.

* Vilém Flusser, Gestures, 2018, Workroom Press, p. 33.

Project Objectives

Preserve fleeting prefaces and provide an opportunity for re-reading
Rethink the ways exhibitions are narrated through text
Inspire new interpretations and creativity in writers

Expected Impact

Prefacescollects scattered exhibition prefaces in one place, creating a platform where readers can experience the preface of an exhibition without visiting the venue itself. Since the platform excludes images and video, readers must imagine the exhibition’s layout and works solely through text. This creates a unique way to perceive and engage with exhibitions beyond traditional in-person viewing, fostering a multidimensional understanding.

For researchers, Prefaces serves as a valuable archive. Reading exhibition prefaces can reveal much about the curator or artist, helping to build a multifaceted understanding. A solo exhibition preface may reflect deep insight and empathy for the artist, while a group exhibition preface might showcase the curator’s perspective and storytelling. Since exhibitions are inherently ephemeral, revisiting and interpreting them offers both historical depth and inspiration for future projects. For new writers, this platform provides inspiration and context, while those who previously experienced these exhibitions can reconnect with the memories and gain fresh insights.

Location

All countries where translation is available

Duration

Ongoing