The Korean artists Moon Kyungwon and Jeon Joonho (both born 1969) make work that addresses elemental questions concerning contemporary civilization in light of political, socioeconomic and ecological changes. The exhibition project News from Nowhere that they initiated jointly in 2012 is premised on a postapocalyptic scenario: humanity has been almost entirely wiped out and is forced to reconsider long-held convictions that may no longer be tenable. The project premiered at Documenta 13 and is designed as a steadily evolving ensemble. Moon and Jeon have established an interdisciplinary and participatory platform where renowned experts from the fields of product and fashion design, architecture, urban planning, and medical and biotechnology research discuss the urgent issues of our time with the audience. The thematic focus is on the constitution and construction of communities.
This monographic publication accompanies an exhibition and delivers an in-depth exploration of Moon and Jeon’s project News from Nowhere. The book presents a comprehensive overview of the former exhibition stations in Kassel and Chicago alongside documentation of the project’s realization in Zurich. In addition the book contains discussions about the role and function of art in our contemporary world, ranging from cultural to economical questions.
