[Opinion] A Bogus Cinderella

Artists are often reluctant to explain their artworks during interviews. Some may simply answer, “Just feel it as it is.” Perhaps it is an imprudent to demand artists to translate emotions embedded deeply in their artworks into logical words. However, this “no-questions-asked type” of approach is also easily found within the artistic community. For instance, companies generally require job applicants to submit a number of certificates and documents, but people in art circles often buy whatever job seekers say without checking credentials or academic backgrounds.

Shin Jeong-ah, the former art director of the Kwangju Biennale who has been found to have forged her university degrees, was often referred to as the Cinderella of the art world. In 1997, she visited a museum and expressed her wiliness to work a curator, saying she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Kansas. At that time, Korean museums were mostly under budgeted and curators, whose roles hadn’t been clearly defined, were also underpaid. The museum welcomed her without giving much thought. They probably didn’t even think about verifying her academic background. Although she started her career with this low profile job, she enjoyed a spectacular success.

She immediately stole the spotlight because exhibitions that she organized received great reviews. Her name frequently appeared in newspapers and television. Moreover, she started to promote herself for receiving a Ph.D. from Yale University. The doctoral degree gave a new set of wings to this rising star and helped her become a university professor and the art director of an international art festival. In the meantime, strange rumors started to circulate. People in art circles were not as fooled as Shin hoped to be. They expressed doubts about earning a doctoral degree from Yale University while staying in Korea.

There is no limit to human desires. Those who have enjoyed the sweetness of lies can seldom control themselves from telling more lies. However, we are now more capable of screening lies. In fact, it’s almost impossible to deceive others long term in the information age, where personal information can be easily accessible on the net. Nevertheless, the flaws found in the professor hiring process must be fixed. It must have been bitter to swallow, but it may be a good learning experience for the art circle.

Hong Chan-sik, Editorial Writer, chansik@donga.com