I land in Seoul after a long direct flight from London Heathrow.
The British Korean Society, which runs a grant scheme offering financial help to support events that encourage and foster good relationships between Korea and the UK, have very kindly and generously offered to cover with the travel expenses.
And I am once again reminded that an artist’s work is never a one person process and that there is always a network of very kind open minded individuals whose aim and job is to make all of this possible.
After one hour bus and a short taxi ride, I have finally arrived at the residency in Changdong. The structure is situated in the north-eastern side of the city, in a characteristic area, close to restaurants, local markets, bakeries and coffee shops. The studios are spacious, very spacious indeed. After being shown the place around by the cheerful team of the MMCA residence, I take a nap, then go out for groceries and then nap again.
I wake up thinking it must be 8.00am and discover it is instead only 1.00am… I am jet lagged.
Waking up, the day after, I finally have the energy to fully appreciate the very generous size of the studios; the high ceilings, full working AC, heater, a sink and extractor almost feel too much and I already feel like hanging something on the wall, to fight off the ‘horror vacui’ that the tall white perfect walls seem to transmit.
Everything is ready for a great start, I am off to fetch some electronics and do some bureaucracy. I then go explore the ground floor, where two large white galleries, await to house our exhibition. Beautifully designed publications, near the entrance document the past residencies and the artworks and projects developed by the artists who came before me.
It is a true pleasure to have this opportunity, everything is ready to go… I must have heard somewhere that travelling East always gives you a worse jet lag… and it somehow must be true.
I am off to sleep :)
