프로그램 노트

Program Note

For most people, identity is something they are born with, something as natural as their skin. Even if this is not actually the case, it is often treated as if it is. Whether enjoying the status of the majority or sensing the uniqueness of a minority, identity is, without question, something that belongs to oneself. But for some, identity may be a matter of choice. Just as one cannot easily shed their skin but can change clothes with ease, identity is merely one part of life that can be defined and altered by oneself. That doesn’t mean it can be reconfigured at will. The judgment and feeling that "there is a right fit for me" rush in uncontrollably. Even if it is a matter of choice, there is a sense that one must inevitably or fatefully accept a certain identity. This is the position represented by the diasporic Zainichi Koreans (including Joseon nationals.) And they mend, build, weave, wear, listen to, and see what someone living with a diasporic identity has left behind. This process reconnects historical time, space, and people. The vast sea holds the imagination and hope for those countless, seemingly impossible connections. (HAN Changwook)