[단독 인터뷰] Jun-Yong Moon, “The Way Good Works Repay National Taxes” in Controversy Over Corona

The exhibition of media art artist Jun-Yong Moon (38) cannot be free in the’political version’. This is because many people are questioning whether the halo of his father, President Moon Jae-in, intervened.

The same was the case with a recent solo exhibition held in 8 years at Geumsan Gallery in Jung-gu, Seoul. Following a conspiracy theory that links the 3rd stage of social distancing and the duration of the exhibition, far-right YouTubers raised a preferential dispute over receiving an emergency art grant of 14 million won for the damage of Corona 19 from the Seoul Foundation for the Arts.

What is the feeling of living as an artist who focuses on the’father’ rather than the’work’? In an interview with Maeil Economic Daily on the 22nd, Moon Joon-yong confided, “It is a pity that the artist’s activities are covered rather than regrettable.”

“It is unfair to use children to attack politicians. The political behavior of our country has to be positively refuted. In particular (through Facebook), we are refuting mainly on the part that’I wasn’t skilled but received preferential treatment from my father’s background’. I think it’s better than doing nothing.”

In the art world, many people appreciate his work, which combines creativity and fun. Visitors who have experienced shadow play using augmented reality (AR) are also popular. An official at the museum who exhibited his work a few years ago said, “At the time, I was recommended by several curators and selected,” he said. “I have excellent skills as a media art artist such as technology, narrative, and audience communication.” He has exhibited original media art works at the New York Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the National Museum of Modern Art, the Seoul Museum of Art, the Gwangju Design Biennale, and the Kumho Museum of Art.

The following are questions and answers I shared with him.

-Regarding the controversy over the preferential treatment of art grants on Facebook, he recently wrote, “(Seoul City) chose someone who can use it properly.” You still think so.

▷ It is not money that goes into my pocket. The grant is put in a separate bankbook to prevent the artist from tampering with it, and the receipt is thoroughly inspected. I think that if you make a good work, that is the way to repay the national tax. The Shadow Play series has been shown abroad, including the 2011 New York Museum of Modern Art group exhibition. I think that I am proud to do such an exhibition well. I think you can use it for good by receiving the support fund.

-There is not much economic margin for an artist, but because he is the son of the president, there is a controversy over the arts subsidy. Have you ever received any financial support from your parents?

▷I have been living without financial support from my parents for 11 years. I’ve endured well, and I’m proud of it now. I think even an artist should quit as soon as possible if there is no profit. I thought I shouldn’t live with other help.

-There is also criticism for receiving 30 million won in support from the Paradise Cultural Foundation this year.

▷ The actual production cost was higher than the support fund. It took more than a year from planning to production, but because I was greedy, I spent a lot of money on the production and couldn’t take my labor costs. Equipment costs such as 3D sensors and projects and video software production costs were high. In particular, the cost to external experts in video production was high.

-It seems that the background of his father would rather be an obstacle to the artist’s activities.

▷ I think the judges will give preferential treatment to the Corona 19 support fund, but it is not. Some don’t like the president, while others take care of themselves for fear of being noisy.

-Shim Jeong-eun when he heard the claim that “the delay in the 3rd stage of social distancing is due to Jun-yong Moon’s exhibition period” on the far-right YouTube channel’Landscape Research Institute’

▷ It was so absurd. There are so many weird things that YouTubers say they don’t care at all.

-Geumsan Gallery is a gallery run by Hwang Dal-seong, an alumnus of his father’s Namhang Elementary School in Busan. Therefore, there is a prejudice that it is an exhibition opened against the background of his father.

▷ It is not an exclusive gallery as it is known in the world. However, Geumsan Gallery is not a place where everyone exhibits that they are familiar. I have been working with me for a long time while attending an art fair hosted by Geumsan Gallery. (Regarding, Hwang said, “Most people around me are from the conservative side. I have been steadily exhibiting promising media art artists such as Jun-yong Moon, Chang-gyeom Kim, and Seung-gu Han. “I dismissed it).

-What to say to those who criticize without seeing the exhibition.

▷ It would be nice if you could see my work and talk about it together. I don’t want you to see your work and remember your skills. Until now, my exhibition history tells me of my ability as an artist and is listed on my personal website.

-It seems that my heart was suffering for several days.

▷ Because it is a frequent job, I spend a lot of time responding straight to the heart rather than having a hard time. I am trying to get rid of my emotions and talk to social network services (SNS).

-The next exhibition plan.

▷ Even in the midst of noise (noise), it has been exhibited several times a year, but there is no plan for next year due to Corona 19.

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