New Malden has the highest Korean community in Europe, nicknamed ‘Koreatown’ since the 1960’s. Under the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames, there was a harrowing difference between the gentrified market town centre of Kingston with a history Art’s University (where I studied) to a 60’s, 70’s updated highstreets (where I lived), the only suggestion of its diverse, vibrant community was the occasional shop sign.  

 Throughout the academic year we explored ‘Decolonising the museum’ with live project at the Design Museum, however, what draw my attention was the environment of where this discourse was taking place. The museum, a place of privilege, with a abondance of accessibility challenges, from the language, the environment, the objects and so on. This informed my research into questioning what would a museum looking like without a building? and how would it function?  For myself and Lee, this was in the context of New Malden a culturally rich area that is not represented.  

Kingston University School of Art, in partnership with London Design Museum

Final project 2021

Co-curated by Merrydith Russell and Lee Youngwon

This project was partnered with The Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames, Korean Culture and arts centre, and, Refugee Action Kingston