What we consider an “ordinary” life may be “paradise” to others. This exhibition “Ordinary Paradise” at Third Floor-Hermès, by Korean artist Yeondoo Jung, consists of video and photographic works that challenges commonly held assumptions of what is considered an ideal living environment or situation. The profound and the pedestrian collide, in Jung’s latest video chronicles of dreams and realities of the man in the street.

The public has a collaborative role in the art-making process of Jung’s new work, responding to the artist’s open call for ideas of an “ideal paradise” published in newspapers and the web. Jung then visits the homes of selected applicants in Seoul and Singapore to explore their living settings. Following these dialogues, he fabricates props and sets to re-shoot their homes - creating not simply a fantasy but to show a different side of reality.

The passion for images and image making in “Ordinary Paradise” symbolises a basic human impulse, central to our understanding of ourselves and others, to the formation of our memories and dreams and a defining feature of art.

One of the most prominent artists working in Korea today, Jung had solo exhibitions in Asia, Europe as well as the United States and his works have also been shown in numerous museums and biennales worldwide, including the 51st Venice Biennale and the Liverpool Biennale in 2008. His photographs and videos can be found in important collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the National Museum of Contemporary Art (Seoul), The Essl Museum of Contemporary Art (Vienna), and the RISD Museum (Providence, RI).

About the Curator:
This is the seventh successive installation at Third Floor curated by Emi Eu, following LIFE AND DEATH IN VENICE by Ming Wong, NO NEED FOR FOREVER by Rei Sato, TRAVELER’S STORIES by Luis Terán, DISCOVERY AND JOURNEY by Flavia Da Rin, THE END DEPENDS ON THE BEGINNING THE BEGINNING DEPENDS ON THE END by Heman Chong and WANDER/WONDER by Jinnie Seo.

Emi Eu is the Director of Singapore Tyler Print Institute.