dreamer, 3:45 am is a one-of-a-kind art exhibition that combines the talents of various artists with different abilities to present a variety of contemporary visual arts. The Lotte Museum has created an exhibition that allows the viewers to visualize their dreams, ushering them into a world of art like no other and filling them with excitement, awe, and wonder at the things they see, hear, and touch.

Awakening Your Dreams

This exhibition is a combination of world-renowned contemporary artists and famous Korean musicians who perform and present auditory and visual simulations of music, performances, and lights, projecting their own narrative. With the theme of dreaming, they all introduce fresh artistic experiences and inspirations and challenge the limitations of contemporary art. The different forms of art transformed into contemporary art and music awaken the inspiration within us and allow us to break down the barriers that may keep us from dreaming – bringing calm and inspiring creativity.

This exhibit begins with the Ambiguous Dance Company and Lim Yong-ju, with music by Peggy Gou, while United Visual Artists (UVA) and Matthew Clark present their sculpture, performance, and installations all in one room; these artists work together to cross the boundaries of genres and interpretations to form a new perspective and create a dreamlike exhibition. All of these are brought together to inspire people to dream and show how powerful dreaming is. The experience brought about by the collaborative work of artists in their own field invites the audience to enter a world of dreams and expectations – one that is immersive, imaginative, and spectacular.

Shaping Your Dreams

Whenever people work to improve their present state or help other people reach their dreams they do so by involving the mind and allowing imaginations to take over. This is exactly what the exhibition does as it presents the various exhibits, encouraging and emboldening the audience. The exhibition plays with the senses through the use of lights, sounds, and images, with a combination of surreal sounds and visuals drifting between the good, bad, and eccentric as seen in the light and dark themes of the exhibit and the dancing bodies cut in half. This may look bizarre but the fact that the team behind the exhibition has sparked curiosity and astonishment is simply something that could make the viewer smile. Merely entering the exhibit can give a feeling of excitement, wonder and expectation; in a roomful of lights and spectacles.

In “Nevertheless, Dreams Come True,” one of the sections of the exhibition, the works of various artists, beginning with the Ambiguous Dance Company in combination with sound artist Lim Yong-ju, make themselves available as companions to dreamers. With repetitive movements, the Ambiguous Dance Company sends the message that dreams are meant to be sought after and people should aim to fulfill them. Dreams are meant to be like flowing water that takes individuals to different places. On the other hand, Lim Yong-ju, who uses electrical signals that are referred to as Dreams of Signals, envisions a difficult journey but points at endless possibilities. The signals congregate and create a complex vibration, giving birth to a song. This is where the arrangement of music leaps into action, conveying the message that there is harmony and aspirations that radiate throughout humanity. With the performance of the Ambiguous Dance Company, music takes on a new meaning, making it more alive and dreamlike through the wider shots of bodies and movement.

Experiencing Disorder and Inspiration

The UK art collective UVA utilizes the rules of perspective to reinterpret space as they present “Chaotic Times”, inspired by the sketches of Leon Battista Alberti, Leonardo da Vinci, and Albrecht Durer. The illusion of light turns into a physical material as this piece contemplates. UVA matches the sketches created by the aforementioned artists to geometrical compositions and architectural formations, adding light and rhythm to them. This work was created in 2003 by Matthew Clark, the creative director of UVA and a UK-based design practitioner. It makes use of innovative technology that is applied to performance, installations, and sculpture. The lights split and beam into space, creating compositions that are geometrical and architectural. From a different perspective, the art almost looks like an aurora. The light of dreams presented in this art makes the space seem as if it has no boundaries or limits.

To complete this performance of lights, Peggy Gou, a DJ, producer, and fashion designer, uses all of her creative skills to add to the dreamlike state with her electro house music that awakens the senses and brings dreams into reality. The colorful melodies and rhythms project a sense of love, freedom, and hope to those who dare to dream and push forward until their dreams are reached. Listening to the music in Peggy Gou’s “Green Light” livens up the senses and brings a kind of energy that encourages you to move and explore possibilities. It also creates a positive vibe for the listener as various mixes of sounds and rhythms collide and burst into something that can inspire. It lacks lyrics but the message is clear. Just like a green light, Track 9 suggests the idea of moving forward. It sends a message to keep driving until the final destination is reached.

Together, the combination of lights, sounds, and rhythms in the exhibition dreamer, 3:45 am creates calm, and assurance even in these chaotic times. The viewers can contemplate on what they want to achieve in life, dream without limitations or barriers, and share the experience with others around them – all because they made time for this exhibition which indeed, has created a room where the possibilities to dream seem endless.

Exhibition Information:

Title: dreamer, 3:45 am

Venue: Lotte Museum of Art (Lotte World Tower)

Date: 2021.09.30 ~ 2022.01.02

Opening Hours: 10:30 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.

Ticket Price: 18,000 won (19 years old and up)