Minja Gu (b. 1977, Korea). Minja Gu’s work is based on personal performances that observe and question daily behaviors, which in turn are projected through various media including photography, video, installation, and drawing.
Mostly Minja’s works starts to set up a certain structure or condition which brought from socially perceived implications in different manner, and go on through making some performers or participate in the process and structure in a certain way. The context is revealed while the frame is activated in parallel or parasitic to the activities of the living sphere.
She majored in painting at Hongik University and philosophy at Yonsei University and received a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the Korea National University of Arts. She participated in the SSamzie Space studio program (Seoul), the Hangar Residency for artists (Barcelona), the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP, NYC), and the HISK program (Ghent, 2015–2016). She received the award of excellence by the Songeun Art Award in 2010. Selected solo exhibitions include Identical Times (SPACE CROFT, Seoul, 2009), Atlantic-Pacific co. (Moore Street Market, New York, 2011), and Inside the Belly of Monstro (Citadellaan 7, Ghent, 2018). Gu has participated in numerous group exhibitions, including the Taipei Biennale (Taipei Fine Arts Museum, 2008) and New Visions New Voices 2013 (National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, 2013). In 2018, Gu was selected as one of the four sponsored artists for the Korea Artist Prize, an annual award and exhibition co-organized by MMCA and SBS Foundation.
