Koo Jeong A, still from Ousss, 2024. Video, colour, 30:00. Image: Artist and Anna Lena Films. Co-produced by The Vega Foundation.

With 3D technology, Ousss by Koo Jeong A is a cinematic journey that blends nature, skateboarding, art, and a surreal experience.

BY KAZEEM ADELEKE, ARTCENTRON

Venice is currently buzzing with activity as the 60th Venice Biennale unfolds. This esteemed global art event brings together countries from around the world to showcase the works of some of the top artists. As with previous years, there is an abundance of shows to explore. Alongside 30 supplementary exhibitions and activities vying for attention, numerous galleries are also holding exhibitions. Additionally, a plethora of private museum foundations are presenting works by top art masters.  

There are art lovers, collectors, and enthusiasts everywhere. But despite the number of exhibitions to experience, the main focus is on the pavilions. Among the pavilions to visit at this year’s event is the Korean Pavilion. Here, visitors can experience the captivating film titled Ousss by renowned artist Koo Jeong A. Presented by Berggruen Arts & Culture and Anna Lena Films in conjunction with Jeong A, Odorama Cities, this film takes viewers on a mesmerizing journey into a world where art, nature, and skateboarding intersect.

Koo Jeong A: An Exploring Art and Reality

Koo Jeong A collaborated with producer Anna Lena Vaney to develop Ousss, a 3D film project spanning from 2014 to 2022. It premiered during the Paris+ art fair in 2022 and received critical acclaim for its innovative storytelling approach. Ousss revolves around the glow-in-the-dark skatepark Otro, which Jeong A developed between 2007 and 2012 on Vassivière Island in Beaumont-du-Lac, France. This 2,300-square foot phosphorescent structure features bowl-like curves connected by three tunnels, inspired by the sinuous forms of a lake shore. Users of the skatepark become part of its natural surroundings as they skate across a human-made landscape that blurs the boundaries between art and life.

The Otro skatepark boasts a captivating design that effortlessly harmonizes with its natural environment. By nightfall, its phosphorescent illumination casts an enchanting aura, elevating the space into a veritable masterpiece. Primarily, the skatepark’s design embodies Jeong A’s artistic ethos, manifesting her aspiration to fashion alternate realms within the mundane. Moreover, the park’s seamless integration with its surroundings blurs the distinction between the synthetic and the organic, beckoning enthusiasts to engage with skateboarding in a novel and profound manner.

Understanding the Symbolism of Ousss

Since the 1990s, the term “Ousss” has been a cornerstone of the artist’s lexicon, embodying a mysterious and ever-evolving phenomenon. It hints at the presence of both substance and force within the fissures of our cosmos. Notably, “Ousss” functions not only as a base, prefix, stem, and suffix but also encapsulates the artist’s quest to unveil concealed truths within the tangible realm.

In Ousss, the Otro Skatepark emerges as a central figure, emblematic of the fissures within our familiar reality. It is through this crevice that Koo Jeong A delves into the realm of tacit knowledge. She reveals hidden experiences that would otherwise remain invisible. The film guides viewers on an expedition through diverse forms, skillfully juxtaposing the organic beauty of natural landscapes with the radiant, otherworldly aura of the skatepark.

Ousss features mesmerizing visuals of undulating hills, majestic mountains, serene valleys, and sprawling grasslands, juxtaposed against the radiant luminescence of the Otro skatepark.  This imagery blurs the boundaries between the physical and immaterial worlds, inviting viewers to broaden their perception of reality. Through the utilization of 3D filming techniques, Koo Jeong A provides viewers with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the expanded perceptual landscape of Ousss. This approach fosters a surreal ambiance, wherein the barriers separating the physical from the metaphysical seamlessly dissolve.

Beauty and Wonder Around Us

The Otro skatepark, with its light-absorbing and radiating properties blurs the boundaries between day and night, physical and immaterial. There is an opportunity for viewers to experience a new reality where sensory experiences extend beyond the objective. Viewers explore the hypnagogic moments before sleep, where perceptions begin to unravel and new sensorial possibilities arise. The film engages the senses, offering a unique and immersive experience.

Ousss is a groundbreaking film that challenges traditional perceptions of art and reality. Through the use of innovative visual elements and cinematic techniques, Koo Jeong A guides viewers in exploring alternative realities within the material world. She obscures the boundaries between art, nature, and everyday life. Additionally, she provides viewers with the opportunity to contemplate the relationship between humans and their environment, highlighting the interconnectedness of all living beings. With the visually stunning imagery of the Otro skatepark and its surroundings, the artist encourages us to see the beauty and wonder in the world around us. She invites us to connect with nature in a profound and meaningful way.

Koo Jeong A: Innovative Storytelling Techniques

One of the most striking aspects of Ousss is its ability to evoke a sense of wonder and awe. The film’s use of 3D technology and innovative storytelling techniques creates a truly immersive experience. It draws viewers into a world that is both familiar and otherworldly. At its core, Ousss has a celebration of creativity and human ingenuity. It showcases Jeong A’s creative prowess as she turns an ordinary recreational area into a masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of our perception of possibilities.  The film is a reminder that art is everywhere and that creativity knows no bounds.

As you explore the 60th Venice Biennale, take the time to visit the Korean Pavilion and experience Ousss for yourself. Transport yourself to a world where art, nature, and skateboarding collide, blurring the boundaries between reality and imagination. Ousss is a testament to the power of art to inspire, challenge, and transform. It is sure to leave a lasting impression on all who experience it.