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Whether it’s a person or an x-object, the first thing we encounter is its “name.” A name is a concise yet powerful linguistic tool for recognizing that x-object. That is why we devote considerable time and energy to naming.

In the world of cinema—where a massive budget and countless hands are involved—what significance does the title hold? A film title is the essence that condenses the film’s multifaceted world into a single line or even a single word. Before the screen lights up, the title prompts the audience to imagine its story and play their own personal trailer in their minds.

Moreover, titles serve as a symptom reflecting their era and symbols revealing the collective consciousness. There was a time when titles blending archaic, literary language with Chinese characters dominated the screen; an era when obscure foreign words were summoned as symbols of “sophistication”; and a period when laid-back, colloquial titles reflecting the demands of everyday life were in vogue. In short, the history of film titles has mirrored the cultural trends of Korean society and the ever-changing sensibilities of the public.

On Title – Text, Typography, Moving Images rearranges and analyzes the titles of approximately 8,400 Korean films released from 1919 to 2025 through a range of keywords, presenting a new framework for viewing Korean cinema. By tracing the words that appear most frequently in film titles, the exhibition interprets the prevailing sentiments and narrative trends of each era. It also illuminates the filmography of an iconic star in Korean cinema through the lens of titles. Furthermore, it proposes multiple layers of analysis—such as gender, color, and sentence structure—to offer fresh perspectives on the Korean film history.

The exhibition also highlights the formal aesthetics of the titles. The movement of the titles in the opening sequence, as well as the diverse typefaces and designs featured on posters and flyers, visually embody the film’s atmosphere while simultaneously showcasing the beauty of the Korean alphabet. On the exhibition wall, the dynamic lettering and calligraphy, along with animations and video works reinterpreted by contemporary directors and graphic designers, breathe new life into familiar film titles.

On Title – Text, Typography, Moving Images goes beyond animating film titles that once existed as static text; it invites new interpretations and expands them into the realm of “experience.” A name is no longer just something to be called. Here, film titles come alive once again.