Inkyung Oh

Inkyung Oh is a planner, producer, dreamer and an artist who has worked in Seoul and New York. She served as a manager in Gyunggi Art Center (2007-2012) where she learned to promote art and cultural projects and events through social media outlets. Through this experience, she became interested in audience feedback and the influence of cultural events. Inkyung has realized that any type of public event or art project can subliminally influence anyone who views it, and thereby have a powerful effect on society.

During her graduate studies in Art and Public Policy at NYU, she investigated how art could be used to address a social change and notion of joy, discovery, building and freedom. Inkyung strived to understand the relationship between artists and audiences and usage of art to break down interpersonal barriers. During her time at Tisch School of the Art, she held a summer fellowship and worked at NYU game center, The Korea Society, and has founded ArtLab OH to carry out projects relevant to social justice, art and social change. In 2015, Inkyung works for Korean Institute for Gender Equality Promotion and Education.

What drew you to the MA Arts Politics program?

I was confident that the program will help me broaden my vision of social justice and allow me to improve my research and planning abilities. I believe that MA Arts Politics Program has helped me achieve my goals by providing the key knowledge and tools that I need to develop a new art programs for future audiences and artists.

How did your experience in the program shape your work?

I remember the message of Randy Martin that was addressed at commencement of the 2014 MA Arts Politics class. "It is the wealth that you have manifest that will open new possibilities where we thought there was only closure, of advocacy of the arts, of activism and activation from within the arts that we so desperately need. Please continue to open those horizons. Every morning when I awaken I will follow those traces. And please know that my heart is with you” His words and the MA Arts Politics program has inspired me and driven me to arrange all of my current projects. It also led me to have a fundamental interest in every type of interaction and be fascinated by the impact of my art on an audience. It is now my belief that art is a profound method of communication that could change people's heart and mind.

What are you doing now? 

I am currently working for Korean Institute for Gender Equality Promotion and Education which plays an crucial role as a hub for a world-class institute for gender equality education by exchanging information related to gender equality and constructing social networks.