Extraits de courriels
CORRESPONDENCE: email exchanges related to the development of the project (2016-17)
From: Kathleen Ritter
Subject: Re: LandMarks: Maps and links
Date: March 22, 2016 at 7:16:53 AM PDT
To: Jin-me Yoon
Hi Jin-me,
I’m so glad that you are excited about this project. I think it is going to be great.
I’m not surprised at all that you are gravitating towards Gwaii Haanas and Pacific Rim. It makes sense to me. When I think about your practice in the long view, the earlier work around looking/being looked at, the subsequent shift to crawling (and the kind of point of view that afforded), I like the opportunity that an island and an open ocean represents, to stand and look out. I think this is a very strong position to start from. Plus these two places rank pretty high in the collective imaginary… I think that would be very rich terrain. (Ah, excuse the pun!)
I’m looking forward to how this continues to develop!
Looking forward to continued discussion, as always.
Warm regards,
Kathleen
* * * * * * * * * *
From: Jin-me Yoon
Subject: Re: LandMarks: Notes on current project in Jeju-do
Date: April 28, 2016 at 5:29:41 AM PDT
To: Kathleen Ritter
Hi Kathleen,
Nice to talk to you too.
It was wonderful to receive this from you in an earlier email:
“I’m not surprised at all that you are gravitating towards Gwaii Haanas and Pacific Rim. It makes sense to me. When I think about your practice in the long view, the earlier work around looking/being looked at, the subsequent shift to crawling (and the kind of point of view that afforded), I like the opportunity that an island and an open ocean represents, to stand and look out. I think this is a very strong position to start from. Plus these two places rank pretty high in the collective imaginary… I think that would be very rich terrain. (Ah, excuse the pun!)”
Such a succinct understanding of the various phases of my work thus far – the long view for sure – and the new work to (be)come. Thank you!
As requested, please find below something I wrote for my upcoming research…
Jeju-do, South Korea
Through researching historically significant areas of Jeju-do (island) South Korea, I explore the idea of memorialization in relation to a charged geopolitical history as well as the spectacularly varied yet fragile ecosystem. Another aspect of the project addresses the urgency of revaluing other systems of knowledge that are in danger due to the rapid pace of overdevelopment during our current conditions of ecological devastation coupled with accelerated economic globalization… My photographic and sculptural video installations are experimental in nature connecting networks of abstract forms and representations while being informed by very specific geo-political and historical research…
I’ve attached a short interview published in Mousse with Karen Barad just in case you feel like reading it. Although I don’t have any scientific training and can’t say I follow everything she’s talking about, philosophically and by extension politically, I find her work compelling for many reasons too complicated for me to get into here. It’s aligned to much of my feminist thinking and feeling as well as being influenced by a Buddhist, Animist heritage – a way of being alongside and lateral, rather than vertical in relation to power, that is, “intra-actions” (Barad’s neologism). I’m experimenting with how to do this materially and methodologically in my work. Have been working on this for awhile since the early work more focused on the politics of representation.
And one last thing: I also find Thomas Hirschhorn’s statement that he does not make political art but makes art politically in synch with my approach.
I look forward to more conversations with you during our work together on this project. It’s been a pleasure [to] Skype and be in your orbit.
Thank you for taking the time to think about my work.
All best,
Jin-me
* * * * * * * * * *
From: Kathleen Ritter
Subject: Re: Parks Canada – Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site – Film and Photography Guidelines
Date: June 7, 2016 at 7:08:23 AM PDT
To: Jin-me Yoon
Hi again Jin-me,
So I was talking with the folks from Parks Canada yesterday and they don’t have sound archives, and no central archives on the history of the parks… However they did recommend the maritime museum in Victoria as a source for information about Pacific Rim.
But here is something I turned up in my research. Pac Rim comprises three sites, Long Beach, Broken Group Islands, and the West Coast Trail. The West Coast Trail was established in 1910 in order to facilitate the rescue of shipwrecked sailors along what was called the “Graveyard of the Pacific”. I thought this might interest you because it draws a concrete connection between this place and the ideas of migration and movement that are so central to your work. I would be interested in learning more about this history, and see what we can turn up in archives…
In the meantime, here are some links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Rim_National_Park_Reserve
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graveyard_of_the_Pacific
http://www.blackrockresort.com/about-black-rock-resort/blog/entry/pacific-rim-national-park-reserve-part-ii-history-of-the-pacific-rim
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/parks/pacific-rim-canada-park/
www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/pacific-rim-national-park-reserve/
Regarding Gwaii Haanas, there is a story of conflict surrounding the establishment of the park, which has been fairly recent. I’ll investigate a bit further and get back to you with some more concrete facts.
More soon!
My best,
Kathleen
* * * * * * * * * *
From: Kathleen Ritter
Subject: Pacific Rim
Date: June 7, 2016 at 7:11:23 AM PDT
To: Jin-me Yoon
Hi again Jin-me,
Also the folks at Parks Canada mentioned that Pac Rim has a fairly advanced interpretive program and good relationship with the local first nations. A number of their programs involve the indigenous communities… Here is a bit of info: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/activ/activ16.aspx
Cheers,
Kathleen
* * * * * * * * * *
From: Jin-me Yoon
Subject: Re: LandMarks – images from site visits
Date: August 3, 2016 at 3:41:56 PM PDT
To: Kathleen Ritter
Hi Kathleen,
Thanks for continuing support and for thoughtful comments. After our conversation, I had a few days to think seriously about the Pac Rim project. (Had to get my head out of the Jeju Island videos that I have been editing!)
Now I have my cousin and partner visiting from Korea – a little distracted with entertaining them – so hope you don’t mind if I insert your email below to make sure I get to all your comments and questions.
Please ignore typos and missing words…
On Aug 3, 2016, at 6:24 AM, Kathleen Ritter wrote:
Hi Jin-me,
It’s great to hear how your thoughts are continuing to develop! I have some further musings to add to them.
I think you are right about the postcards. As a format, they are so perfect for this project. The form of the postcards captures ideas of tourism in relation to parks, landscape and the idea of the “view”. By inserting yourself into this view—as I imagine you will—you ultimately disrupt the appreciation of a landscape so often represented as vacant and uninhabited. Further to this, by looking out, you direct the gaze towards that which is beyond the frame of the image, and perhaps beyond what you can see, but what you can imagine, a speculative distance or time.
I think Pacific Rim is the perfect site for this, especially because it is a park that [is] so picturesque and is visited by such large numbers of tourists, all armed with cameras.
My best,
Kathleen
Yes for sure. And re: selfies sticks etc. most people face the camera… associational thought to share…my cousin visiting showed me a photo yesterday he scanned of a photo of my father leaving Korea in 1966 at Kimpo airport he found in his mother’s photo album…it’s classic, the American airplane on the runway has a stairway up, into the plane my father is not visible but implied as one of figures on the stairs going up into the the belly of the silver bird; but the most emotionally charged part of the image was of my grandmother’s back of the head…those coming to say their goodbyes are on the runway too! (I know it’s her, her hairpin visible in the traditional way Korean women wear their hair…it established her POV…the forever and ever distance from her only son that would never return…my father was the first to leave “third world” post war Korea…roughly half of my family is here because of him…why am telling you this, guess for me it had a link to looking out and an essential core of the project…looking out over there over the Pacific. My father always intended to go back home but now I know we will never “go home” for home is here and there simultaneously… displacement is no longer a major concern for me and by extension my work is more about emplacement, here in the is magnificent Pacific Northwest. The project is also about time. The Long View, longer than our human lives.
* * * * * * * * * *
From: Jin-me Yoon
Subject: Fwd: Kapyong footage
Date: September 21, 2016 at 12:14:24 PM PDT
To: Kathleen Ritter
Dear Kathleen,
FYI: This interview and archival footage is very moving…Jeffrey is my RA and we’re working on the Cold War history side related to Radar Hill and Kaypyong. Link below. Short, very worthwhile watching. CBC Kaypong war veteran interview
Best,
Jin-me
Begin forwarded message:
From: Jeffrey Langille
Subject: Kapyong footage
Date: September 17, 2016 at 3:40:54 PM PDT
To: Jin-me Yoon
Hi Jin-me,
Just a quick question. I’m wondering if you want me to locate film footage of the Kapyong fighting? A YouTube search brought up this CBC interview with a war vet (who mentions Vancouver – maybe he lives there). There is a lot of archival film footage of war in the interview, and I could contact the CBC about where to get it. There is an unusual clip here at 3:19min. that is only a few seconds of some men running on the battlefield – quite striking but easy to overlook amid the explosions, etc.
CBC Kaypong war veteran interview
Should I follow up with this?
more to come… J.
* * * * * * * * * *
On September 27, 2016, Crystal Bolduc wrote:
Hi Jeffrey,
While the renaming has not gone ahead at this time, in 1998 a cairn to honour the battle of Kap’yong was erected at Radar Hill and since 1998 the park reserve has hosted a ceremony with the Korean War Veterans Association each year to mark the anniversary. The 2016 ceremony was cancelled due to the construction that occurred in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
This past year, we have been very busy with some large infrastructure projects at Radar Hill. The road – previously known for its bumps and dips and potholes – has been repaired and resurfaced, and new culverts have been installed to help manage water flow. At the location of the Kap’yong monument and viewpoint, a new yellow cedar viewing platform has been installed, along with a new viewing area and shelter at the top of Radar Hill and looking towards Long Beach. These projects were completed in June, and provide our visitors with a safer, more enjoyable way to visit Radar Hill and the Kap’yong monument.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Crystal Bolduc
Promotions Officer, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Parks Canada
P.O. Box 280, Ucluelet, BC V0R 3A0
* * * * * * * * * *
On Nov 9, 2016, at 10:46 PM, Kathleen Ritter wrote:
Hi Jin-me,
Sorry to hear about your loss in the community. And yes, the news of the US is devastating. I feel very, very sad…
* * * * * * * * * *
From: Jin-me Yoon
Subject: Re: From Jin-me
Date: November 10, 2016 at 8:56:05 AM PST
To: Kathleen Ritter
Hi Kathleen
The news is devastating but it might spark the need for engaged citizenship and a deep emotional affective commitment towards other possibilities for the world on many many levels…this is what we are doing aren’t we? Just rushing off to teach and busy all day and pm but wanted to get back to you about below.
Please excuse the necessity of inserts. Really appreciate the link to the video on indigenous arts protocol. Very much in the spirit of how am I approaching the “side-by-side” relations, mostly wanting to listen and not extract. I want to understand emplacement – in the fullest sense and that has to include being on indigenous land with a history of colonialism. JS and I have no expectation nor any extractive intentions.
Will have weekend to attend more fully.
All best,
Jin-me
* * * * * * * * * *
From: Jin-me Yoon
Subject: Re: LandMarks project
Date: November 22, 2016 at 2:53:20 PM PST
To: Kathleen Ritter
Cc: Rosie Prata
Hello Rosie,
Nice to hear from you again. Last time it was about our program. Thanks for the write-up about SFU, if I neglected to thank you for this.
A bit swamped but I’ve inserted my quick answers below. Hard for me to be precise as I have yet to shoot/make the work as Kathleen notes.
Perhaps it can be noted that these answers were provided while the work was in progress.
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Thanks so much.
Best,
Jin-me
On Nov 22, 2016, at 2:12 AM, Kathleen Ritter wrote:
Dear Rosie,
Lovely to hear from you. I’m glad Canadian Art will be representing this project. My responses to your questions below. Let me know if there is anything else you would like me to follow up on, or if it would be better to speak on the phone.
My best,
Kathleen
On Nov 21, 2016, at 22:02, Rosie Prata wrote:
Hi Kathleen and Jin-me,
I’m writing today to find out some more information about Long View, your LandMarks project, which I’m writing about for Canadian Art‘s Spring 2017 issue.
I have a short blurb that describes the project as a series of contemplative postcards that depict the artist on the beach. I’d like to ask you a few questions to fill in some gaps in my understanding, and to generate some responses that I can include in my write-up as short quotes from the artist and curator.
My description of the project can only be 150 words total, so you can answer the following questions in just a few sentences–no need to write long. I’m also asking for a very short turnaround time (please send responses by November 23) because we have to get our blurbs to the French translators, so that’s another reason I’m suggesting we keep this short and sweet!
For Jin-me:
– How many postcards make up the series?
5-6 perforated postcards including the title card.
– What is the general mood of the images, and are you facing the viewer, facing away from the viewer, or both?
Both.
– Do the postcards have slogans on them, or otherwise contain references to pop culture or art history?
Hesitant to respond as I’m unsure at the moment but I’m considering the use of binoculars for the title card for Long View, facing the viewer. The last card will most likely be of me facing away from the viewer looking out into the Pacific Ocean (here, West Coast of Canada and there, Korea simultaneously).
Thinking both of popular images in the collective imaginary of Canadian art and how they circulate, often in postcard or reproduced form – like earlier work of mine, A Group of Sixty-Seven, i.e. Carr and Harris. In this title card, Alex Coleville, To Prince Edward Island, comes to mind as well as imagery from the Cold War (and current conditions)- in particular the situation of mutually reinforcing intense paranoia, surveillance and looking, across the DMZ between North and South Korea.
Viewing device, near and far re: use of binoculars.
– How does this series relate to Souvenirs of the Self?
S of S was made in 1991, in Banff, our oldest national part, so 25 years later, my concerns are more about emplacement (not “belonging” in the cliche sense but what is it to really in-habit place) and thus not so much about displacement as in S of S.
The question about in-habiting a place brings up my relationship to being on indigenous land in the so-called New World. Pacific Rim National Park Reserve has a more recent history (70s, please fact check) and is co-managed by NF and Parks Canada. Still has untreatied land within the park (fact check).
– What sort of feeling does looking out into the ocean inspire in you personally?
A sense of being a part of nature and not separate from it as a homo sapien. The vastness – the fact that all the oceans are one big interconnected ocean – containing many creatures and mysteries, the deep.
– Can you describe how the images convey a sense of “self, place, belonging and race within the context of Canadian identity”?
We inherit images but we can re-make and make them too. In this way, a privilege to be an artist. I’m having a dialogue through images, existing documents in the broadest sense of the word – an open ended conversation with the past in the present to affect the possibilities of a different co-existence in the future i.e. not dependent on colonial and imperialist ways of relating to each other and importantly, to nature.
For Kathleen:
– How did this project with Jin-me come together?
I approached Jin-me to consider revisiting a work that she did in the early 90s, titled Souvenirs of the Self, where she posed before the camera in iconic tourist settings in Banff National Park. The project, which circulated as a series of postcards, explored ideas of the self, place, belonging, and race in the context of the construction of Canadian identity—themes that have long been central in Yoon’s work.
– Where were the images photographed within the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve? Are they all at Long Beach?
None have been photographed yet. We have done a site visit to the park reserve to look for locations. The photo shoot will take place in March 2017.
– How will the works be displayed?
The images will circulate as postcards.
– How does this project involve community and student collaboration?
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is an ideal setting to explore the concept of emplacement. The park reserve is home to a number of diverse communities and, as part of her project, Yoon will initiate a dialogue with local Indigenous communities about the significance of place. Yoon is also researching the links between the Pacific Rim and Asian, with a focus on the history of the Cold War, Radar Hill and the twinning of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve with Hallyo Haesang Sea National Park in Korea. For the launch of Long View in June 2017, Yoon will host a series of conversations, engaging different communities in and around Pacific Rim, along with students, towards a discussion of the meaning of place.
– Do you have images of the project or site that you could share with me?
This is a question for Jin-me. I’ll ask her if there are images from our site visit that she would be comfortable putting forward at this stage.
Thanks so much for your assistance with this, and I look forward to reading your responses.
Best wishes,
Rosie
—
Rosie Prata
MANAGING EDITOR
Canadian Art
The voice for visual arts in Canada
* * * * * * * * * *
From: Jin-me Yoon
Subject: Re: LandMarks project
Date: November 23, 2016 at 7:54:00 AM PST
To: Kathleen Ritter
Cc: Rosie Prata
Hi Rosie,
I realize that I didn’t fully address these questions.:
– What is the general mood of the images,
Somber, contemplative but will be weather dependent which is something I accept.
-and are you facing the viewer, facing away from the viewer, or both?
Both.
– Do the postcards have slogans on them,
Yes, will have written text verso.
or otherwise contain references to pop culture or art history?
Perhaps, my answer below to this question (binoculars and related references) is premature and too specific given that I will make my final decisions upon actually shooting the work in March.
What’s more important is to mention, the prosthetic touristic gaze (usually now involving cellphones) and all that we don’t see, i.e. invisible, entangled histories. In the case of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, I’m specifically interested in histories entangled through war in the Pacific Rim region – military history within the park and the Cold War which in turn is intertwined with the Korean War, history related to Japanese internment intertwined with WWII, counter cultural histories associated with draft dodgers during the Vietnam War and the foundational base: colonial histories on indigenous ancestral land.
FYI: park established in 1970 by Princess Anne and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Canada.
Thanks for working on this –
All best,
Jin-me
Here is an image that can be labelled as a research image.