Overview

THE PROJECT “URBAN ISLAND” IS BASED ON THE SONG VARÚÐ BY ICELANDIC BAND SIGUR RÓS. IT IS A PORTRAIT OF A HOMELESS MAN IN HIS FORTIES, WHO HAS LIVED ON THE STREETS OF SEOUL FOR MORE THAN 8 YEARS. HE HAS BEEN PART OF A SMALL HOMELESS COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, WHICH CAMPS OUT IN A LITTLE PARK NEXT TO THE TRAIN TRACKS OF YONGSAN STATION. AS THE MAN STRICTLY REFUSES TO RECEIVE CHARITY, HE FREQUENTS THE CITY STREETS EACH NIGHT TO MAKE A LIVING BY COLLECTING RECYCLABLES.

DOCUMENTING THE HARDSHIPS OF A HOMELESS PERSON WORKING AND LIVING WITHIN THE METROPOLITAN CITY, CHALLENGES GENERAL PREJUDICES AGAINST PEOPLE LIVING ON THE MARGINS OF SOCIETY. THE LITTLE PARK NEXT TO YONGSAN STATION, WHICH THIS COMMUNITY FREQUENTS, CAN BE CONSIDERED AS A SIGNIFICANT SPACE TO FIND ESCAPE AND SHELTER. IT ALSO THOUGH SHOWS HOW PEOPLE ARE EXCLUDED AND FENCED AWAY FROM GENERAL SOCIETY. NOT ONLY VISUALLY, BUT ALSO IN REALITY THIS LITTLE PARK IS LIKE A SMALL ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE URBAN CENTER OF SEOUL. IT IS FOR THE AUDIENCE TO DECIDE, IF IT IS ISLAND OF REFUGEE OR EXILE.


FOR THIS PROJECT I TEAMED UP WITH NAMHUI PARK AS A DIRECTOR DUO. IN ADDITION I SHOT THE VIDEO AS A CINEMATOGRAPHER AND WORKED AS AN EDITOR AND COLORIST IN POST. THE FILM PREMIERED AT THE GROUP EXHIBITION AT “CULTURE STATION SEOUL 284”, IT WON THE 1ST PRIZE AUDIENCE AWARD AT THE 7TH PREMIERS COURTS INTERNATIONAL FILMFESTIVAL 2012 AND WAS SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2013 FILM GRANT AWARD OF “THE MANUEL RIVERA-ORTIZ FOUNDATION FOR DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY & FILM”.

DIRECTOR

NILS CLAUSS & NAMHUI PARK

PRODUCTION

A CONTENTED PRODUCTION