Here in Seoul: Heemin Chung at Museumhead, Seoul Solo Exhibition by Heemin Chung

In terms of representation of the figure, there is only one person presented in Seoulites, a solo exhibition by Heemin Chung. An avatar of the artist is featured in I Crawled out of the Oven (2021). As well as in Our Polished Hearts (2021), the small painting on the floor at the exhibition hall. Where are the rest of the people in Seoul? This exhibition was introduced as an presentation of paintings but it may need to be corrected. It features her works in a variety of media, including sculptures, installations, and VR works. Rather than having an experience of a wider range of materials, she might have preferred to experiment with complex mediums and collaborate with other people. This exhibition categorises Seoul residents into three groups. First, the one is being trapped such as the artist being trapped within the painting or ‘crawling out of an oven.’ Second and third could be tied together. They represent the connection with people and the meeting with a collaborator who works with mediums outside the painting. According to the curator's preface, “In this exhibition, the artist weaves together her solitary time facing the canvas with multiple screens, media, objects, texts, and people who connect simultaneously.” In this context, ‘the people who connect simultaneously’ has a double entendre. 

First, the site is an exhibition space, where the work is moved from the time of the artist working in the studio and presented to an unspecified number of viewers. On the other hand, the screen, media, object, or text, as mediums beyond the realm of painting, signify more than simple material expansion. They represent encounters and collaborations with others. All these factors assist the artist to crawl out of the painting-oven-studio and engage with the viewers.