Public Glance (Molka)

Public Glance critically examines gender, surveillance, and agency in public spaces through a two-channel video. On one channel, I lie on the floor of a busy subway station, disrupting the flow of commuters and highlighting vulnerability and exposure. By breaking the rhythm of the space, the work invites viewers to reflect on the male gaze and its impact in public spaces. The second channel reveals a reciprocal act of surveillance. An external camera films me while I simultaneously record the station and passersby from my lowered vantage point. This dual perspective challenges power dynamics, juxtaposing objectification with agency and questioning hierarchies of seeing and being seen. Set against the backdrop of South Korea's 2018 feminist activism, including protests against molka (hidden camera crimes) and systemic gender inequalities, Public Glance interrogates societal structures shaping perceptions of women's bodies and autonomy.

Public Glance (Molka), 2024, Digital drawing, 1754 x 1240 px