Useful Arbeitsloser (Jobless) – Sanghyeok Lee

I had an opportunity to create a new work shortly after my graduation. I was filled with fresh enthusiasm and optimism as I embarked on this new chapter in a different country, Germany. However, the reality I faced was quite different. I had to navigate the complexities of finding a place to live, securing employment, obtaining the necessary visa and insurance, and learning a new language, among other challenges. At that time, I even had to tick the box labeled ‘Arbeitsloser (jobless)’ on official documents.

Despite these initial burdens, I made a conscious choice to transform this unique life experience into something meaningful. I was both insecure and fragile during this transition. Then, one day, as I observed scaffolding erected for a building’s repainting, I found myself contemplating the structure and pondering the existence of scaffolding itself. It was in that moment that the concept for this meaningful project was born.

This project explores the duality of utility and insecurity. Just like the scaffoldings and myself, it embodies contrasting elements: usefulness juxtaposed with joblessness, lightness interwoven with substantiality, and vulnerability alongside determination.