이장욱

"The moment it is spoken, it springs forth like tender sprouts, but by the time it reaches the ears of the listener, it has already passed through summer and turned into fallen leaves."

Jang-wook Lee, who studied in Kyoto, draws a metaphorical connection to fallen leaves for the meaning of "개구즉착(開口卽錯)," the opening phrase of the exhibition, inspired by the linguistic play where the Japanese word for ""language,"" 'kotoba' (ことば / 言葉), can be literally translated as 'leaves of language.' Drifting gently on the reservoir of words left behind by those who have passed, a single boat carries fallen leaves. Indistinct fragments of words also flow alongside. Just as spring turns to summer, summer to autumn, and then to winter, language that has turned into fallen leaves is the nature. The author embraces the language that has become like fallen leaves in their own way.