The Vienna Secession is delighted to host the major group exhibition Forms of the Shadow; curated by Sunjung Kim, Artistic Director of the Art Sonje Center in Seoul. As an artist-run institution dedicated to the display of contemporary art in all of its manifestations, the Secession is proud of its history as a preeminent global centre for the presentation of new creative ideas and its concomitant engagement with the most urgent concerns of our time. Confronting the complex realities of life and current global challenges, we believe a core part of our mission is to grapple with questions of cultural and social policy, and to showcase ambitious visions that spark public debate. These concerns are precisely encapsulated by Forms of the Shadow. The exhibition casts light on contemporary shadows unveiled by the global pandemic, the climate crisis, and geopolitical tensions. Through this thematic lens, it invites viewers to reflect upon the interconnectedness of our world and the complexities of navigating through turbulent times. By shedding light on the ever-shifting nature of shadows and their metaphorical significance in witnessing the passage of time, the exhibition prompts reflection on the intricate layers of human existence.

The works on view in Forms of the Shadow are distributed across three clusters. The first features a diverse range of artistic expressions that explore geopolitical tensions, notably focusing on the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Much like how a shadow moves across a landscape during the day, the exhibition drifts and extends beyond the Korean peninsula. While this first group of works embodies a melancholic sense of hope for the future, subsequent groupings uncover further tragic or uncomfortable truths about life and death. The final part of the exhibition is spread across both the Secession and the nearby Korean Cultural Centre and is dedicated to the concept of nature reclaiming areas once disturbed by human intervention – this is especially evident in the DMZ, which has remained inaccessible for over 70 years. Contrasting with the human-dominated spaces elsewhere in the show, this section focuses on the way in which plants and animals have been able to retake territories that have, for a variety of reasons, become uninhabitable by humans. 

Forms of the Shadow offers nuanced insights into the resilience of nature amidst human intervention as well as the enduring pursuit of hope among adversity. Sculptures, paintings, embroideries, and performances invite viewers to immerse themselves in a sensory journey that delves deep into the intricate layers of human experience, revealing the perpetual dance between light and shadow that defines our collective travels on this planet. 

About Vienna Secession
Vienna Secession is the world’s oldest independent exhibition institution specifically dedicated to contemporary art. The Vienna Secession is an exhibition space for contemporary art that occupies a unique position in the history of modernism, combining a contemporary, forward-looking program with a building that is an icon of the spirit of innovation and optimism that prevailed around 1900. In keeping with the motto emblazoned on its façade—To each era its art. To art its freedom—the Secession under its current board lives up to its stature as a leader in the international discourse by standing against discrimination based on gender and sexuality in patriarchal systems, racism, anti-Semitism and social injustice with its exhibition and event program.