On: Two friends leave the room and walk in different directions.
2017, Astrid Gallinat/art historian, Bologna
“Two friends leave the room and walk in different directions” is a textile banner, which Thyra Schmidt created during her stay at the pink factory’s international residency program in Hongcheon, South Korea. The artwork was conceived in situ for the group exhibition Moving Shadow at the Hongcheon Art Museum in September 2017. Presented on the façade of the building, it stretched through the loggia of the entrance, contrasted by the museum’s sign below, with its golden letters on black ground.
On the white banner, there are Korean characters printed in red and green: the translation of the original German title. Thyra has chosen red for “Two friends” and “in different directions” and green for “leave the room and walk”. Due to the difference in grammar between Korean and German, there are two sentences in the translation. Also, the middle part of the original sentence is split, resulting in two red and two green parts. Furthermore, a one-to-one translation was not possible, but the artist discussed with the translator different options to find the most consistent transmission.
The regional street advertisements inspire the design, material and suspension of the banner. A number of these commercial signs cover entire façades. They indicate information about product offers or enterprise locations and are often multi-coloured. In Thyra’s work the red was chosen for its signalling effect and underlines – for her – the most important text parts. Green, being the complimentary colour to red, intensifies the radiating effect of its counterpart. Since images in the typical advertisement are unusual, the artist didn’t use them either. On the other hand, announcements of events and exhibitions are usually placed in special frames with a pre-specified format apart from buildings.
Thyra’s sentence contrasts with the commercial messages. For the Korean public, it had a more private or complex philosophical character. In particular, if perceived as a personal statement, the banner evoked astonishment, since it was located on a public building. Therefore, it was recognised as something private in a public space. Others, notably European viewers, saw a more politically-inspired reference. This might be evident with regard to the location in South Korea and its historical separation of North Korea.
Nevertheless, Thyra does not want to specify any interpretation. In the contrary, she hopes that “when read, an imaginary picture emerges – in the best case, many changing images. Images that evoke different associations. Images that allow complex interpretations.” (Artist’s statement)
At the same time, the artist deals with text also as image. The two different colours of the sub-sentences could symbolise as well the separation of the two friends given by the text content. Moreover, the full stop in the Korean translation splits the described actions: the quitting of the room and the division of the friends. A certain symmetry of the resulting image refers formally to the symmetry of the building.
Two friends leave the room and walk in different directions.
2017, Hongcheon Art Museum, South Korea
→ artwork
↑
On: Two friends leave the room and walk in different directions.
2017, Astrid Gallinat/art historian, Bologna
“Two friends leave the room and walk in different directions” is a textile banner, which Thyra Schmidt created during her stay at the pink factory’s international residency program in Hongcheon, South Korea. The artwork was conceived in situ for the group exhibition Moving Shadow at the Hongcheon Art Museum in September 2017. Presented on the façade of the building, it stretched through the loggia of the entrance, contrasted by the museum’s sign below, with its golden letters on black ground.
On the white banner, there are Korean characters printed in red and green: the translation of the original German title. Thyra has chosen red for “Two friends” and “in different directions” and green for “leave the room and walk”. Due to the difference in grammar between Korean and German, there are two sentences in the translation. Also, the middle part of the original sentence is split, resulting in two red and two green parts. Furthermore, a one-to-one translation was not possible, but the artist discussed with the translator different options to find the most consistent transmission.
The regional street advertisements inspire the design, material and suspension of the banner. A number of these commercial signs cover entire façades. They indicate information about product offers or enterprise locations and are often multi-coloured. In Thyra’s work the red was chosen for its signalling effect and underlines – for her – the most important text parts. Green, being the complimentary colour to red, intensifies the radiating effect of its counterpart. Since images in the typical advertisement are unusual, the artist didn’t use them either. On the other hand, announcements of events and exhibitions are usually placed in special frames with a pre-specified format apart from buildings.
Thyra’s sentence contrasts with the commercial messages. For the Korean public, it had a more private or complex philosophical character. In particular, if perceived as a personal statement, the banner evoked astonishment, since it was located on a public building. Therefore, it was recognised as something private in a public space. Others, notably European viewers, saw a more politically-inspired reference. This might be evident with regard to the location in South Korea and its historical separation of North Korea.
Nevertheless, Thyra does not want to specify any interpretation. In the contrary, she hopes that “when read, an imaginary picture emerges – in the best case, many changing images. Images that evoke different associations. Images that allow complex interpretations.” (Artist’s statement)
At the same time, the artist deals with text also as image. The two different colours of the sub-sentences could symbolise as well the separation of the two friends given by the text content. Moreover, the full stop in the Korean translation splits the described actions: the quitting of the room and the division of the friends. A certain symmetry of the resulting image refers formally to the symmetry of the building.
Two friends leave the room and walk in different directions.
2017, Hongcheon Art Museum, South Korea
→ artwork
↑