Idleground
Idleground functions as communal seating, inspired by the Pyeongsang—communal seating commonly found on the streets, in parks, in front of corner stores, and in other locations in Korea during choi's childhood. These spaces served as gathering spots where residents could relax, converse, and build community. Today, Pyeongsangs are rare due to urban planning changes that segregate people by social class and privatize spaces, leading to societal polarization. This loss of public gathering spaces is a global issue, contributing to increased social isolation and polarization.
This sculpture as furniture attempts to counter this ongoing isolation, using found materials—scrap wood from the artist's labor as a professional carpenter and scrap fabrics collected from local LA garment factories. These leftover materials are tactile proof of physical labor, signifying the unrecognized labor force that sustains Los Angeles’ infrastructure. By transforming these scraps into communal seating, choi highlights the contribution of invisible labor to our society and encourage people to sit, chat, and idle with others as a means to resist isolation, segregation, and polarization.
Idleground, 2024, hardwood and plywood scraps, fabric scraps collected from LA garment factories, 16 x 80 x 72 inches
IInstallation view from Before the Last Spike, a solo exhibition at ArtCenter College of Design.
Installation view from Before the Last Spike, a solo exhibition at ArtCenter College of Design.
Photos by Coffee Kang
Reference images of Pyeongsang
