[Current Culture] Allow Imagination in Politics and Administration

Webtoon artist ‘Kian84’, whose name is more widely known than many celebrities, is holding a solo exhibition. It would be a mistake to think of it as simply moving webtoon work into an art gallery. This exhibition is a solo show presenting his paintings as a pop art artist. In the dictionary sense of pop art, Kian84 is indeed an artist perfectly suited for pop art. Although the exhibition has not yet started, there is a striking piece on the poster. It is a parody of the famous painting ‘The Persistence of Time’ by Salvador Dal?, known for his surrealist style. The melting clocks have been replaced with Rolex watches, and next to them, he has drawn his own webtoon character, showcasing his cleverness. It also reminded me of the Salvador Dal? exhibition I recently visited.

To begin with, ‘The Persistence of Time’ itself has never come to Korea. Nevertheless, this Dal? exhibition was very satisfying. Over a long preparation period, they secured more works than expected. Readers who frequently visit art museums know that seeing original artworks up close is a completely different experience from viewing prints or monitors. It’s like the difference between just smelling food and actually tasting it.

People may have different criteria for evaluating art, but if imagination is the most important standard, it is hard to find an artist like Dal?. Over the past century, the art world has continuously attempted bold destruction and new creation through pop art, surrealism, avant-garde, and more. Looking at Dal?’s bizarre works painted a century ago, one understands what the ‘original’ truly means.

Is imagination only necessary in art? Of course not. The fields of politics and administration, which seem the least related to imagination, actually require it most. The modern definition of imagination might be ‘the power to create something new,’ but I believe the contemporary definition has evolved. I realized what imagination means in this era from a phrase posted in a classroom of an art academy in Mok-dong (I briefly attended to learn drawing after turning forty). The paper in an old frame read:

‘Imagination is the ability to connect things that seem unrelated.’

An approach fixated only on immediate goals cannot handle the complex reality intertwined around us. This is also why many policy failures we have witnessed occurred. Real estate policies focused solely on regulation, public-led housing supply advocated while ironically the most rotten place was the public sector (LH), North Korea policies swayed by the goal of the armistice agreement, the mixed-member proportional representation system that failed to foresee even a step ahead, and the prosecution reform that made one wonder if it was really intended?all these policies from the current government were not started with malicious intent. I truly believe in the good intentions of this government. However, policies implemented with good intentions can still end in painful failures. The greatest suffering is passed on to the people at the lowest levels. I hope the new government will not repeat the same mistakes. I hope they will break free from the rigid ideas held so far and envision fresh pension reforms like Dal?’s paintings, and clear, straightforward college admission systems like Kian84’s artwork. By casually connecting things that seem unrelated. I must do the same. I want to joyfully imagine new novels, unprecedented broadcasts, and more.

The Dal? exhibition is still ongoing. Just a few days after it ends, Kian84’s exhibition will begin. Spring is a perfect season to awaken imagination.

Lee Jae-ik, Novelist

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.