Youree Kim: 1909
Terrain Biennial

Exhibition Dates: October 1 – November 15, 2023
On view BEHIND the Riverside Arts Center

The Riverside Arts Center is pleased to present Youree Kim’s installation, 1909 as part of the 2023 Terrain Biennial. In keeping with Terrain’s public viewing guidelines, the artwork is located outside RAC’s back fence, accessible to viewers 24/7.

1909 echoes the tangled history of transnational sex trade/tourism, colonialism, militarized violence and control on disabled bodymind. It was inspired by architectural remnants in Hibarimachi, one of the government-run brothel villages in Korea by Japanese settlers to efficiently profit and control women’s bodies and sexuality, later replicated to and by colonized communities. The statue was first built with sand, clay, and wood, layered with cotton and hemp cloth, and then lacquered, resonating a process of filling and emptying to create a form. The shape and size was referenced from the imported Japanese style Buddha statues.
-Youree Kim

Youree Kim is an interdisciplinary artist, activist, and researcher. Their works seek to navigate the complicated realities of how disabilities are produced, perceived, and represented in the face of critical socio political issues. Their artistic practice and process entails combining lived experience, research, and community engagement. They hold a Master of Public Policy from Adler University and a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Kim has exbited with HATCH, The Other Art Fair, and the Hyde Park Art Center. They have been awarded Ignite Fund, Illinois Humanities Envisioning Justice, and Third Wave grants as well as residencies with HATCH and Acre. Projects organized or curated by Kim include Alternatives to Calling the Police During Mental Health Crisis (Chicago) and Disability Day of Mourning (HPAC). Their writings have been published in Truthout, AK Press, and Riksha Magazine. Kim’s work is in the collections of the Milstein Center of Columbia University, Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America (MA), and The Joseph Regenstein Library at University of Chicago.

About Terrain
Terrain Biennial is organized by Terrain Exhibitions. Terrain was founded on the front porch of late artist Sabina Ott out of a spirit of generosity and community building through art. Terrain has produced six editions of the Biennial and continues to bring public art to more and more neighborhoods across the world with every installment.

Terrain Exhibitions is a 501c3 Not for Profit organization founded in the State of Illinois. Terrain is partially funded by the Oak Park Area Arts Council, in partnership with the Village of Oak Park, the Illinois Arts Council Agency and the National Endowment for the Arts. Terrain also receives support from The Hyde Park Art Center Artist Run Chicago 2.0 Fund and the Montage Foundation.
www.terrainexhibitions.org

Riverside Arts Center
Freeark Gallery + Sculpture Garden
32 East Quincy Street
Riverside, Illinois 60546

For press inquiries and high-resolution images or for additional information contact Gallery Director, Joanne Aono at jaono@riversideartscenter.com

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