ποΈ Seoul, a Slice of Memory: The Return of Georges Rousse If you walk through Seoul’s art scene this month, you’ll find a quiet yet powerful exhibition that feels like opening an old photograph. French installation photographer Georges Rousse, a visionary who paints and transforms abandoned spaces, has finally returned to Seoul — 27 years after his first show here in 1998. His new exhibition, “Seoul, a Slice of Memory,” is currently on view at Kong Gallery, the very place that first introduced his work to Korean audiences. For Rousse, this isn’t just another exhibition — it’s a return to a city filled with echoes of the past, a reunion with the Seoul he once captured in its raw transformation. π¨ The Red Circle of Farewell — “Seoul, 1998” https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/021/0002749905 One of the most striking parts of this exhibition is the rediscovery of Rousse’s early work from 1998. Back then, he visited Hwanghak-dong, a neighborhood near Cheonggyecheon Stream, an area marked for redevelopment. The old houses were waiting for demolition, and Rousse turned one of them into a canvas for memory. He painted a large red circle directly onto the wall of the soon-to-be-torn building, then photographed the space. The result was hauntingly beautiful — a geometric symbol standing in the middle of chaos, as if marking the soul of the disappearing city. Rousse later shared that the red circle was not only a symbol of farewell, but also a greeting to fading light and memory — an artistic bow to what was about to vanish. When we compare those photographs to today’s Seoul, the difference is almost surreal. What was once an empty, dusty street has now become a modern landscape filled with glass towers and neon lights. Yet, through Rousse’s lens, that past still feels alive, suspended in time. πΌοΈ Seoul Then and Now — “Seoul, 2025” https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/021/0002749905 Fast forward to today, and Rousse’s new work titled “Seoul, 2025” brings the story full circle. Displayed at the Seongbuk Museum of Art and now featured again at Kong Gallery, this series captures the essence of Seoul’s ongoing transformation. But this time, the tone feels more meditative — less about loss, more about coexistence between the old and the new. Alongside these pieces, the exhibition also presents Rousse’s watercolor sketches and photographs from France, Germany, and Italy. These works reveal how his artistic language has evolved — from pure geometry and perspective to a softer, more emotional interpretation of space and color. 𧱠Painting with Space, Light, and Memory https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/021/0002749905 For those unfamiliar with Georges Rousse, his creative process is almost like magic. He enters abandoned or soon-to-be-demolished buildings, paints large geometric shapes or color planes directly onto the walls and floors, and then captures the result through his camera lens. From one specific viewpoint, these painted shapes align perfectly — forming a complete image only when seen through his camera’s perspective. In essence, Rousse doesn’t just photograph places; he reconstructs them with light, space, and time.His art invites us to look twice — to see what’s visible, and what’s disappearing. Over the years, his works have been exhibited and collected by major institutions, including the Centre Pompidou, Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, and galleries across Europe and Asia. Yet, this Seoul exhibition feels especially intimate — a conversation between the artist and the city that has changed so much since he last saw it. π A City Remembered https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/021/0002749905 Standing in front of Rousse’s photographs today feels like flipping through Seoul’s collective memory. The soft afternoon light, the weathered walls, the brushstrokes of red — they speak quietly of time, impermanence, and the beauty of transformation. In a city that never seems to stop moving, Rousse reminds us to pause, to breathe, and to look at what once was —because memory, like light, always leaves its trace. π Exhibition Info https://www.newstomato.com/ReadNews.aspx?no=354533 Title: Seoul, a Slice of Memory — Georges Rousse Venue: Kong Gallery, Samcheong-dong, Seoul Dates: 2025 (check gallery schedule for updates) Featured Works: Seoul, 1998 / Seoul, 2025 / France, Germany, Italy watercolor series πͺ Why You Should Go If you love photography, architecture, or the quiet poetry of time, this exhibition is not to be missed. It’s not just about looking at Seoul — it’s about remembering it. #GeorgesRousse #SeoulExhibition #KoreanArt #ContemporaryArt #InstallationArt #PhotographyExhibition #ArtInSeoul #SeoulGallery #KongGallery #Seoul2025 #Seoul1998 #ArtExhibition #FrenchArtist #VisualArt #ModernArt #SpaceArt #ArtPhotography #SeoulCulture #KoreanCulture #SeoulLife #ArtInKorea #ArtisticJourney #PhotoExhibition #UrbanArt #ArchitectureArt #MemoryAndLight #ArtLover #SeoulTravel #KoreaArtScene #Stay14
