Becky Mutrux

사거리 (Intersection)

The Korean word “sageori” literally means four streets, but is usually translated into English as “intersection.” In this installation, the viewer has the opportunity to be immersed in the neon streets of Gangnam, walking with me on my journey from disorientation to familiarity.

It takes time to get to know a place, particularly when you are also acclimating to various aspects of culture. When I moved to South Korea in August 2004, Korea was a mystery to me. Korean pop culture had yet to gain a global following, and my hometown, Kansas City, didn’t have any Korean restaurants, so I didn’t understand the food. I couldn’t read the language let alone speak it. Everything looked different and worked different, from buying produce to finding my way around on buses and trains. But after a year, as I reached the end of my first contract, the shops, sights, and sounds were as comfortable to me as the house I grew up in.

In my thesis work, I combine elements of my investigations as an MFA student to replicate the way that my intersection with Korean culture evolved over the course of my time there. The multiple nature of screen printing is important, creating a repetitive feeling and simulating the glow of neon signs through the use of blacklit fluorescent inks. My experimentation with text intersects with my interest in sense of place, using Korean hangeul to recall the disorientation of being immersed in an unknown language. Finally, my interest in creating a more engaging audience experience has led to the creation of a fully realized installation, in which my audience becomes residents of Seoul as they navigate the space of the work.