Jimmy Robert: Éclipser

Jimmy Robert explores themes of visibility, identity, and the politics of representation, often through intimate gestures and ephemeral materials. His practice reflects a deep engagement with the body—particularly queer and racialized bodies—and their place within historical and contemporary image-making. Blurring the lines between medium and movement, his practice offers a poetic yet critical perspective on how we see and are seen.

This exhibition is the first in Korea to present a selection of Robert’s iconic works alongside a new film and performance. The new work expands Robert’s ongoing reflections on art historical affinities in connection with Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, whose engagement with language, surfaces, and body intersects with Robert’s. Tracing Cha’s archives, Robert extends a dialogue between artistic legacy and present-day body, exploring ways in which the materials can be perceived and opened for new meanings. 

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The works appearing in the film Éclipser are:

Theresa Hak Kyung Cha: Art Practice - Untitled ~ Sketchbook - Drawings, Correspondence, Notes, Poems, Journal - 1974., 1974; A Strathmore Shelburne sketchbook with 11 loose sheets of paper with typewritten and handwritten text. The sketchbook is spiral bound, 78 pages.; 12 x 10 in.; University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive; Gift of the Theresa Hak Kyung Cha Memorial Foundation

Theresa Hak Kyung Cha: Art Practice - The Sand Grain Story - Framed Text and Photo - 1977. , 1980; Typewritten text on paper. A black and white photograph is attached to the paper. Photocopy. (20 copies). 2 photocopies. Signed and dated in pencil.; 14 x 8 1/2 in.; University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive; Gift of the Theresa Hak Kyung Cha Memorial Foundation

The quotes in the film are from:

Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Apparatus; Marguerite Duras, Hiroshima Mon Amour; and Trinh T. Minh-ha.

Editing: Roberta Cotterli

Sound engineer: Jean Marc Guiose

Thanks to:

Jacob Korczynski, Mason Leaver-Yap, Taussif Noor, Laura Graziano, and Stephanie Cannizzo.