homeless winds
natalia papaeva en minsun kim
29 juni 2024 - 27 juli 2024
Bradwolff Projects is pleased to announce the new exhibition ‘Homeless Winds’, in which artists Natalia Papaeva and Minsun Kim convey their search for national identity across the twists and turns of language. The exhibition sheds light on individuals whose life paths lead them across national borders, navigate through diverse upbringings, and weave them through a variety of complex ethnic backgrounds. These people are the embodiment of ‘wandering winds’, striving for an ideal, universally understandable language—a language that promises justice and equal opportunities for all. The core question they aim to answer is ‘Who am I?’.
In ‘Homeless Winds’, Papaeva and Kim reveal that the blurring of language boundaries can be spurred on by questioning our national self-identity. The artworks take viewers through a realm of language experiments, where words merge without reservation and shake up our conceptual world, driven by personal necessity or the pause buttons of the moment.
Rooted in the Buryat culture, Natalia Papaeva honors both the Buryat language and unspoken emotions through powerful artworks. Her work evokes strong memories and serves as a brave tribute to a time when the Buryats were oppressed and forgotten.
Minsun Kim, who unites the facets of both the English and Korean languages in her art, blends layered interactions with the dynamics of physical gestures. Her oeuvre unfolds the paradox between speaking and listening, and illustrates how true empathy becomes challenging when words displace one another.
This exhibition, curated by Natalia Sudova, is the third part of a series highlighting the diversity of languages in the Netherlands. The first project, “Dialect, Landscape, Culture” in 2022, asked the public to reflect on the disappearance of languages and to consider the pros and cons of globalization. The second project, “Silver Tongue: Aspect of Solidarity” in 2023, explored how knowing different languages and dialects influences our perspectives on various fields, from cities to villages to countries.
‘Homeless Winds’ delves into the complex relationship between languages, dialects, and national identity. Building on the questions raised in the previous two projects, ‘Homeless Winds’ invites the community to explore how language influences our sense of belonging in a constantly globalizing world.
Public program
Saturday, June 29, 4:00 PM – Opening and discussion where the artists enter into a dialogue with Renate Schepen, an intercultural philosopher and the author of “Interpreters of Languages We No Longer Speak”.
Saturday, July 6, 2:00 PM – 2 performances: Natalia Papaeva creates a new performance for each project. Minsun Kim will develop a special route for her performance at Bradwolff Projects. The performance will extend beyond the gallery walls.
Saturday, July 27, closing event 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM