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Hwayeon Nam at CAN Centre d’art Neuchâtel

Solo Show «Ripple», February 15 until April 13, 2025

Artists

Hwayeon Nam

Institution

CAN Centre d’art Neuchâtel

Location

Neuchâtel

Download

Press release (PDF)

Website

can.ch

Exhibition View Solo Show Hwayeon Nam «Ripple ; view on Throbbing Dance, 2017, three channel video, 10’57’’» at CAN Centre d’art Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, 2025 / Photo: Sebastian Verdon / Courtesy: the artist and CAN Centre d’art Neuchâtel

Choreography Against Cartography

Nam Hwayeon's work delves into the intersection between the body, knowledge, and the body politic. Through her choreography of thought, she explores various bodies - from dancers to knowledge systems to political entities. Nam challenges conventional forms of knowledge production that operate within borders and classifications, offering a new perspective on how bodies and knowledge interact.

Keepers of Knowledge?

Nam's work navigates the boundaries between official knowledge and its agents, questioning stable identities and challenging common conceptions. In pieces like Coréen 109, she delves into the complexities of cultural heritage and the implications of repatriation. By retracing the journey of historical artifacts, Nam uncovers gaps in preservation and the tensions between ownership and memory.

The Choreographic

Nam's exploration of dance as a medium for nation-building and cultural identity is evident in works like Throbbing Dance and Against Waves. Through a blend of contemporary and archival footage, she reveals how choreography can be a tool for political performance and propaganda. By reconfiguring body movements and narratives, Nam highlights the role of choreography in shaping ideologies and statecraft.

Exhibition View Solo Show Hwayeon Nam «Ripple» at CAN Centre d’art Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, 2025 / Photo: Sebastian Verdon / Courtesy: the artist and CAN Centre d’art Neuchâtel

Exhibition View Solo Show Hwayeon Nam «Ripple ; view on Coréen 109, 2015, video, 10’15’’’» at CAN Centre d’art Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, 2025 / Photo: Sebastian Verdon / Courtesy: the artist and CAN Centre d’art Neuchâtel

Exhibition View Solo Show Hwayeon Nam «Ripple» at CAN Centre d’art Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, 2025 / Photo: Sebastian Verdon / Courtesy: the artist and CAN Centre d’art Neuchâtel

Exhibition View Solo Show Hwayeon Nam «Ripple ; view on Imjingawa, 2017, video, 24’28’’» at CAN Centre d’art Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, 2025 / Photo: Sebastian Verdon / Courtesy: the artist and CAN Centre d’art Neuchâtel

Exhibition View Solo Show Hwayeon Nam «Ripple ; view on Against waves, 2019, video, 14’53’» at CAN Centre d’art Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, 2025 / Photo: Sebastian Verdon / Courtesy: the artist and CAN Centre d’art Neuchâtel

Exhibition View Solo Show Hwayeon Nam «Ripple» at CAN Centre d’art Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, 2025 / Photo: Sebastian Verdon / Courtesy: the artist and CAN Centre d’art Neuchâtel