Kwang-Ju Son is an artist and filmmaker known for her versatile approach to filmmaking, encompassing various styles such as fiction, documentary, experimental film, and video installation. Through her film and video projects, she seeks to challenge the ingrained notion of linear progression and instead explore the concepts of discontinuity and the interconnectedness of space and time.
Starting with THE THIRD TONGUE(2003), she has showcased her diverse projects at various venues, such as National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA, 2024, 2018), Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) Bunker (2022, 2018), Atelier Hermès (2020), JCC Art Center (2018), Arko Art Center (2016), Swatch Faces 2015 (2015), and international film festivals, such as International Film Festival Rotterdam (2011, 2007, 2005), International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (2007), International Short Film Festival Oberhausen (2005), Busan International Film Festival (BIFF/2008, 2004, 2003), and Jeonju International Film Festival (2011, 2008, 2007).
She has received consecutive Best Korean Short Film Awards at BIFF in 2003 and 2004.
EDUCATION
2003 M.F.A., Film, Video & New Media, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
1995 M.S., Computer Science & Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, KR
1993 B.S., Housing & Interior Design/Minor in Computer Science & Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, KR
(Selected) SOLO EXHIBITIONS & SCREENINGS
2023 A PORTRAIT OF CITIZEN K, MMCA Changdong, Seoul, KR
2021 PHAEDO, Art Space Gwanggyo, Suwon, KR
2018 THE HARE IN EXILE, JCC Art Center, Seoul, KR
2018 A ROOM WITHOUT MIRRORS, SeMA Bunker Historic Gallery, Seoul, KR
(Selected) GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 MMCA Photographs Collection: What's the Time in Your World?, MMCA, Gwacheon, KR
2023 NARRATIVES FOR NATURE, REGARDING NATURE, Daecheongho Museum of Art, Cheongju, KR
2023 DIRECT FROM ANTARTICA AND THE ARCTIC TO INCHEON AIRPORT, Incheon International Airport, Incheon, KR
2023 0.1CM: ARTISTS WHO TRAVELED TO THE POLES, Gallery K.O.N.G., Seoul, KR
2023 EXTRA CONTRAST:PORSCHE AND DUMP TRUCK, Artplug Yeonsu, Incheon, KR
2022 ARCHIVED MEMORIES, SeMA Bunker, Seoul, KR
2022 PLACE, SITE, SPACE, Art Center Whiteblock, Paju, KR
2020 ELSEWHERE, Atelier Hermès, Seoul, KR
2019 SCATTERED THOUGHTS/COMBINED EXPERIENCES, Danwon Art Museum, Ansan, KR
2019 VIDEO LANDSCAPE, OVNi Festival 2019, Nice, FR
2019 A-SIDE-B, PS333 @ Seoul Art Space Geumcheon, Seoul, KR
2018 BROOD PARASITISM, SeMA Nanji Residency, Seoul, KR
2018 VIDEO LANDSCAPE, Total Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul, KR
2018 EXHIBITION OF EXHIBITION OF EXHIBITION, Cecil Theater, Seoul, KR
2017 MMCA CHANGDONG REPORT 2017, MMCA Changdong, Seoul, KR
2017 THE THIRD TONGUE, MMCA Changdong, Seoul, KR
2016 EMERGING OTHER, Arko Art Center, Seoul, KR
2015 SWATCH FACES 2015, Venice, IT
2014 FACES & TRACES 2014, Swatch Art Peace Hotel, Shanghai, CN
2008 BEYOND PARADISE: PERFORMING IMAGES IN A POST-TOURISM TIME, Stedelik Museum Bureau Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NL
2008 DOCUMENTARY SHOW ‘DIARY’, Ilmin Museum of Art, Seoul, KR
2007 DOCUMENTAIR FILMPLATFORM ZONE, Gent/Kortrijk/Antwerpen, BE
2007 OPEN ATELIERS, Rijksakademie, Amsterdam, NL
2007 KÖLN SHOW2, European Kunsthalle, Köln, DE
2006 OPEN ATELIERS, Rijksakademie, Amsterdam, NL
2006 SHARED HISTORY/DECOLONISING THE IMAGE, Arti et Amicitiae/W139, Amsterdam, NL
(Selected) FILM FESTIVALS & SCREENINGS
2023 VIDEOCITY X Songeun, Seoul, KR
2023 Experimental Film Festival in Seoul (KR)
2023 VIDEOCITY X TÜBINGEN, Eyegenart Augenoptik am Marktplatz, TÜBINGEN, DE
2023 VIDEOCITY X CONTAINER CITY FESTIVAL STUTTGART, DE
2023 VIDEOCITY X Utopia Today: The Principle of Hope, REX Box, Bern, CH
2021 Mise-en-scène Short Film Fesitval, Seoul, KR
2019 EMAF, Ewha Women’s University, Seoul, KR
2019 Sharjah Film Platform (UAE)
2018 DEAR CINEMA 4: Kwang-Ju Son, MMCA Film&Video, Seoul, KR
2017 Rencontres Internationales (Paris/Berlin)
2012 Göteborg International Film Festival (SW)
2011 International Film Festival Rotterdam (NL)
2011 Festival International de Film de Creteil (FR)
2011 Jeonju International Film Festival (KR)
2011 New Horizons International Film Festival (PL)
2011 International Film Festival Rotterdam (NL)
2009 Vancouver International Film Festival (CA)
2009 Visions du Reel International Film Festival (CH)
2009 International Women’s Film Festival in Creteil (FR)
2008 Busan International Film Festival (KR)
2008 Jeonju International Film Festival (KR)
2007 International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (NL)
2007 ImageForum (JP)
2007 Jeonju International Film Festival (KR)
2007 International Film Festival Rotterdam (NL)
2007 Rencontres Internationales (Paris/Berlin/Madrid)
2006 Syracuse International Film and Video Festival (US)
2006 Women of Color Film Festival (US)
2005 International Short Film Festival Oberhausen (DE)
2005 International Film Festival Rotterdam (NL)
2005 ImageForum: Korean Independent Cinema 2005 (JP)
2005 Festival du Film Court (FR)
2005 International Short Film Festival Drama (GR)
2005 Festival International de Film de Creteil (FR)
2005 Frankfurt Book Fair: Special Screening about Korean Modern History (DE)
2004 Women’s Film Festival (KR)
2004 PDX Film Festival (US)
2004 Images Festival (CA)
2004 Busan International Film Festival (KR)
2004 Women Makes Waves (TW)
2003 Seoul Independent Film Festival (KR)
2003 Seoul Experimental Film Festival (KR)
2003 Busan International Film Festival (KR)
COLLECTIONS
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art(MMCA), KR
MMCA Art Bank, KR
Seoul Museum of Art, KR
Korean Federation of Film Archives, KR
Art Center White Block, KR
COMMISSIONS
2020 ROCK SCISSORS PAPER, Hermès Foundation, Seoul, KR
2018 A ROOM WITHOUT MIRRORS, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, KR
AWARDS & SUBSIDIES
2024 SFAC Visual Art Support for Creation, Seoul Foundation of Arts and Culture, KR
2023 SFAC Visual Art Support for Creation, Seoul Foundation of Arts and Culture, KR
2023 Arko Transdisciplinary Art Support for Creation, Arts Council Korea, KR
2022 GGCF Visual Art Fund for Creation, GyeonGi Cultural Foundation, KR
2020 GGCF Visual Art Fund for Solo Exhibition, GyeonGi Cultural Foundation, KR
2019 GGCF Visual Art Fund for Creation, GyeonGi Cultural Foundation, KR
2014 IWFFIS Feature Film Pitch & Catch Showcase, KR
2011 KOFIC P&A Fund Support, Korea Film Council, KR
2009 KOFIC Feature Production Subsidy, Korea Film Council, KR
2008 BFC HD Short Subsidy Program, Busan Film Council, KR
2006-2007 Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Sicence/Arko Residency Support, NL/KR
2005 Honorary Distinction: Drama International Short Film Festival, GR
2004 Sonje Fund Award: Busan International Film Festival, KR
2003 Sonje Fund Award: Busan International Film Festival, KR
1993-1995 Full-time Research Scholarship, POSTECH, KR
RESIDENCIES
2020-2022 Whiteblock Residency Cheonan, Seoul, KR
2019 Seoul Art Space Geumcheon, Seoul, KR
2019 Arko-KOPRI Co-operated Araon Icebreaker Residency, the Arctic Circle
2018 SeMA Nanji Residency, Seoul, KR
2017 MMCA Changdong Residency, Seoul, KR
2014-2015 Swatch Art Peace Hotel Artist Residency Program, Shanghai, CN
2012-2013 Filmmakers’ Creative Zone by Seoul Film Commission, Seoul, KR
2006-2007 Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten, Amsteradm, NL