Moment of Creation-The Artist's Studio presents a collection of films that delve into the process of artists creating new works and the moments of innovation that occur within. Art is not merely a means of expression but a complex journey that encapsulates artists’ original thoughts and emotions. The creative process that leads to the birth of new art is a fascinating experience in itself, offering a glimpse into the distinct worldviews shaped by each artist’s imagination and creativity. This program, consisting of eight films exploring the creative process, provides an in-depth look into the studios of artists working across various disciplines, including visual arts, architecture, dance, and literature.
The first film, The Mystery of Picasso (1956), directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, is a documentary that follows Picasso's working process as he continuously translates his thoughts onto the canvas. Aalto (2020) follows, exploring the lives and creative journeys of iconic Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto and his wife, Aino Aalto, also an architect. The film traces their commitment to human-scale architecture and their pursuit of social values through design and architectural philosophy. Andrzej Wajda's final film, Afterimage (2016), centers on the relationship between Polish avant-garde pioneer Władysław Strzemiński and his students, portraying how the artist's hardships are transformed into artistic resistance. Anselm (2023), directed by Wim Wenders, is a 3D film that explores the artistic roots of his fellow painter Anselm Kiefer in his studio, revealing Kiefer's work, which draws inspiration from literature, philosophy, and mythology to explore the cyclical nature of human existence and historical narratives.
Other works examine the moment of creation in the fields of literature, dance, and music. One Day Pina Asked... (1983) captures the German dancer Pina Bausch and her dance company Wuppertal, who developed the expressionist technique of “Tanztheater,” a style that combines dance and theater, through the eyes of director Chantal Akerman. Alternating between stage rehearsals and short interviews, the documentary conveys the thrill of the creative moment. The Super 8 Years (2022), co-directed by the Nobel Prize-winning author Annie Ernaux and her son in 2022, reconstructs home video footage recorded between 1972 and 1981. Beyond a personal family archive, the film reflects the lifestyle, aspirations, and social atmosphere of a particular class during that era. Sisters with Transistors (2020), directed by Lisa Rovner, tells the story of female composers who revolutionized the way we make and listen to music today, creating a new history of electronic music centered on pioneering women whose radical experiments with machines redefined the boundaries of music. The final film in the program, Nam June Paik: The Moon Is the Oldest TV (2023), directed by Amanda Kim, traces the life trajectory of Nam June Paik, an artist who embodied the very concept and purpose of art, paving new creative paths.
The program also includes a series of talk sessions to further discuss the creative practices of the artists featured in the films. Experts from various fields, including art history, film studies, architecture, literature, and more, will join to explore the driving forces behind these artists’ creative worlds and the journeys they have undertaken.
Screening+Talk
1. The Mystery of Picasso
February 21, 2025 (Fri) 14:00
Lee Yunyeong (professor, The Graduate School of Communication and Arts, Yonsei University)
2. Aalto
March 7, 2025 (Fri) 14:00
Heechan Park (architect, Director of Studio Heech)
Lee Hyunju (curator, MMCA Gwacheon)
3. Anselm
April 4, 2025 (Fri) 14:00
Sunjae Ham (HEREDIUM Director)
Lee Sabine (curator, MMCA Collection Department)
4. The Super 8 Years
April 25, 2025 (Fri) 14:00
Shin Yoo Jin (writer, translator)
5. Nam June Paik: The Moon Is the Oldest TV
May 23, 2025 (Fri) 14:00
Amanda Kim (director, Nam June Paik: The Moon Is the Oldest TV)
Lee Sooyon (curator, MMCA Exhibition Division)
※ Online reservations through the MMCA website are required for all screenings and events in this program. (On-site tickets are not available)
