This catalogue accompanies the exhibition 'Kimsooja: To Breathe: Bottari' held at the Korean Pavilion of the 55th Venice Biennale from June to November 2013. This pavilion itself is the subject of the 2013 exhibition. It was built by the Arts Council Korea.

'To Breathe: Bottari presents the empty space of the Pavilion, inviting only the bodies of the audience to encounter the infinite reflections of light and sound. The artist's amplified inhaling, exhaling and humming performance sound (The Weaving Factory, 2004–2013) fills the air, transforming the pavilion into a breathing bottari.

Simultaneously, the artist extends the experience of light and sound by creating an anechoic chamber. A space in complete darkness that absorbs all audio waves, leaving nothing but the sound of the viewer's own body, To Breathe: blackout (2013) creates a soundless dark void of infinite reflection of self: a black hole.

The artist invites audiences to be the live and active performers, experiencing a personal sensation and awareness that reveals the extremes of light and darkness, sound and soundlessness, the known and the unknown. This installation questions visual knowledge as the known and darkness as the unknown—that originates from human ignorance—through two visual extremes that are connected as part of a whole. The Korean Pavilion will become a physical and psychological sanctuary, questioning the conditions of civilization in this era.' - from publisher's website.

Includes essays, an interview with the artist by Franck Gautherot and artist biography.
Alternative title

The Korean Pavilion | 55th International Art Exhibition | La Biennale di Venezia 2013

Access level

Onsite

Location code
MON.KSJ
Language

English

Publication/Creation date

2013

No of pages

239

ISBN / ISSN

9782840666127

No of copies

1

Content type

artist monograph, 

catalogue

Chapter headings

Facing the Stromboli - KIM Seungduk, 김승덕

The Korean Pavilion, 1995-2013

Invention of Visionary Language: The Heroes of the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale - LEE Youngwoo

Dwelling on the Korean Pavilion - PAI Hyungmin, 배형민

Being as Building: The Korean Papillione - Michel MOSSESSIAN

Mies' 'Barcelona Pavilion' - Dan GRAHAM

Kimsooja: To Breathe: Bottari

Centripetal Acceleration - KIM Seungduk, 김승덕

A Place To Be - A Conversation with Kimsooja

Kimsooja: To Breathe: Bottari
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Kimsooja: To Breathe: Bottari