Participating Artists 

Miru Kim, Jiyeong Kim(Baekgu), Youjin Do, Darae Baek, Jungkyun Shin, Yooyun Yang, Yeeun Lee, Wonwoo Lee, Juhyun Cho

We live in an age of anxiety. The anxiety we face is not only an individual emotion but also a collective sentiment arising from various societal issues. Recent sociocultural phenomena popular among the generation in their twenties and thirties—such as the rise of interest in MBTI tests, saju (the four pillars of destiny), and fortune-telling, trends of the end-of-the-century mood, and widespread psychotherapy programs—reflect a desire to find solace and comfort amid concerns about identity or anxieties about the future.

The Coreana Museum of Art’s thematic exhibition of 2024, Anxieties, when Shared, focuses on anxiety that has infiltrated our daily lives. Through the lens of contemporary artists, the exhibition explores the emotions experienced by individuals living in an unpredictable society. The title of the exhibition, Anxieties, when Shared, reflects the artists' approach to understanding their personal anxieties and highlights the empathy that emerges when these feelings are shared with others.

The nine participating artists, all from the younger generation, share their experiences of South Korea’s rapidly evolving society. They explore the various facets of anxiety, from personal reflections on their environment to broader socioeconomic concerns and structural issues. By using everyday materials and terms, they convey their feelings and demonstrate their resilience in facing difficult realities. Through the artists’ candid and witty efforts, the exhibition aims to foster empathy and provide comfort. 

Anxieties, when Shared Exhibition tour video