The exhibit’s namesake is Haruki Murakami's 1992 novel, which explores themes of love, loss, and loneliness through the inner turmoil and wanderings of its protagonist Hajime as she reunites with a childhood friend. The title symbolizes the emotional borderlands and spiritual drifting depicted in the novel.

Featuring a multinational group of artists, South of the Border aims to take a deep dive into the theme of multiple belongings by exploring the complexity of human identity and boundaries through pieces that visually convey the multilayered implications of borders, culture, and identity in contemporary society. 

The term “multiple belongings” indicates the process by which an individual is constantly changing and reconfigured within different cultural backgrounds and social relationships, rather than being confined to a single set of conditions. It proposes a concept of self that is fluidly formed by many factors, not fixed by one’s social, cultural, or geographical contexts. The modern individual constantly creates new selves amidst different identities and relationships, and experiences multilayered senses of belonging.

- Taeho Choi (Curator)