Media Gallery Section A, CICA Museum
June 25 – 29, 2025
2025.6.25 – 29
On Off Shore
The tidal mudflats off the coast of South Korea stand as a poignant symbol of humanity’s relationship with nature and the consequences of relentless industrial and economic pursuits. On Off Shore seeks to explore the multifaceted dimensions of this relationship. The project delves into the complexities of environmental degradation, societal perspectives and the elusive nature of truth. Utilising research material, location video footage, and innovative storytelling techniques, the project unfolds as a reflection on the dualistic existence of tidal mudflats and the dichotomy of human perception. The installation features five videos displayed on five monitors. These videos vary in length and offer diverse perspectives and narrative threads that intersect and diverge throughout the installation, weaving together themes of environmental degradation, societal dynamics, and human intervention. On Off Shore integrates AI-generated voices to create a fictive shortwave radio dialogue in the video installation’s sequences, which adds a layer of authenticity and intrigue to the narrative, blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction. All scientific and historical material presented in the installation is however authentic, serving as a stark contrast to the fictive nature of the project’s narrative elements. By juxtaposing real-world data and fictional storytelling, On Off Shore challenges viewers to discern truth from fiction and confronts them with the complexities of environmental issues and human perspectives. The core concept of On Off Shore revolves around the juxtaposition of contrasting perspectives towards the mudflats. One narrative thread explores the viewpoint of the Korean economic elite, driven by profit-oriented motives and industrial endeavours. In contrast, another thread delves into a more scientific and observational approach, highlighting the ecological significance of the mudflats. Viewers have the opportunity to navigate through different narrative pathways, experiencing the divergent perspectives firsthand. Audiovisual installations and tactile components create a multi-sensory journey, inviting viewers to contemplate their own relationship with the environment. Throughout the installation, the portrayal of conflicting perspectives evolves, challenging conventional notions of morality and truth. What initially appears as a dichotomy between the economic elite and environmental activists gradually unfolds into a nuanced exploration of competing ideologies and the inevitability of change. The installation aims to convey the futility of simplistic binaries and the complexity of human-environment interactions.
Gustav Hellberg (b. 1967, Stockholm) is an interdisciplinary artist whose work spans lens-based media, spatial and interactive installations, and processor-controlled technologies. His practice explores the entangled relationships between people, places, and systems—particularly those governing ownership, real estate, and environmental sustainability. Initially rooted in investigations of urban dynamics, Hellberg’s work has increasingly turned toward the frictions between urban centers and peripheral or rural landscapes, reflecting a deepening concern with the exploitation of natural and human resources in zones of transition and tension. Hellberg studied at the Royal College of Art in Stockholm (1993–1998) MFA, with an exchange year at the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin (1995). He later pursued studies in aesthetics and philosophy at Stockholm University. In 2000, he relocated to Berlin, where he lived and worked until 2016. From 2016 to 2023, he served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Photography at Chung-Ang University in South Korea. He is currently based in Goheung, South Korea, and teaches photography at Suncheon National University. His work has been presented in solo exhibitions at institutions such as Hamish Morrison Galerie (Berlin), Torrance Art Museum (Los Angeles), Galleri Andersson/Sandström, Malmö Art Museum, and the City Museum of Stockholm. He has also participated in international group exhibitions including ThingWorld: Triennial of New Media Art (China), Momentum 4 (Moss), EMAF (Osnabrück), Diaoyu Fortress International New Media Festival, Spaced 3: North by Southeast (Perth), Lift-Off Online (Melbourne, 2024), and the Bandung Photography Triennale. Forthcoming exhibitions include Ghost Memory: Journey to the Lost Time at Daedeok Cultural Center (Daegu, South Korea) and the Bandung Photography Triennale 2025. More information can be found at: gustavhellberg.com
