BookBrowse Reviews Exhibit by R O. Kwon

BookBrowse:

A sensuous exploration of one woman's search for identity.

Exhibit, R.O. Kwon's sophomore novel (after The Incendiaries, 2018), introduces readers to Jin Han, a Korean American woman at a crossroads in her life. After a stunningly successful photographic exhibition, Jin has been unable to take a single "good" photo in the months since, even as the deadline for her next show approaches. Philip, her husband of eleven years, is suddenly badgering her to have children, despite telling her when they wed that he didn't want any — a sentiment she still holds strongly. And finally, she feels intense sexual frustration, with strong preferences that her more traditional partner is unwilling to satisfy. She feels lost and untethered, unable to set a course for her life; she's stuck in an unhappy place with no inkling how to move beyond it.

At the height of Jin's discontent, she meets a fellow Korean American at a party. Lidija is a world-famous ballerina; not only is she incredibly talented, known for her ballon (appearance of floating over the stage effortlessly), but she's the first Asian woman to hold the position of principal dancer in a major company. The two form an almost instant connection, and Jin finds herself telling Lidija about her dissatisfaction with her work, her husband, and even her sex life. They agree to meet again with the excuse of Jin taking headshots of Lidija that she can use for publicity, and after a few such rendezvous they begin a sadomasochistic affair.

Kwon's writing style is difficult to adequately describe; words like haunting, mesmerizing and hypnotic come to mind. Her prose is absolutely unique, unlike anything I've encountered, and I found myself enraptured by it, utterly entranced:

"I lifted the camera again. Photos burned up all striving. It was a harsh, ill-paid calling, one I failed with each image I shot. Nothing satisfied; I aspired to a height, the eidolon image, I might die not having gained. But still, if it's going well, I turn powerful. I have my hair pulled high, topknot rising to God. I stop time. I've stolen fire, and I paint with light."

The author mixes narrative formats throughout. She inserts the story of a vengeful kisaeng (a Korean courtesan) in between chapters, and elsewhere, Jin and Lidija compare the Korean legends they grew up with. Included are letters a younger Jin wrote to God, seeking help from the divine while denying its existence ("Dear made-up Lord, I live in pursuit of You. Put me to use…"). There are long sections where Lidija and Jin confide in each other and short ones of perhaps just a paragraph where Jin speaks of her day-to-day life with Philip. Start to finish, the text is sensuous, imbued with color and texture, sound, smells, and taste: "I ate the olives, rich salt filling my mouth," "I unfurled, florid with big, lush bruises. Petal hues; juice stain," "Mild, dappled light filled the studio, foliage shifting."

Also remarkable is Kwon's use of literary contrast, juxtaposing images and concepts as one might in a piece of visual art. Jin and Lidija discuss their work, noting that Jin's is permanent while Lidija's is short-lived ("It can't last past the instant it's performed"). Another conversation concerns a comparison of the seemingly effortless grace of ballet with the strength and pain underlying its facade. Jin has lost her belief in God, yet she's convinced a long-dead kisaeng will derail her life. One could go on — there are many such examples in the book — and the constant tension beneath the narrative is palpable, a push and pull of opposites that leaves the reader feeling unsettled until the resolution.

I think Exhibit is destined to be polarizing; some will love it, others will hate it. My recommendation would be to approach it with an open mind, knowing that what you're going to find isn't your typical novel. It will appeal most to those looking for a book outside the norm — one that's perhaps a bit challenging, but extraordinarily well-written. It's an unforgettable work, one that will leave its fans breathless.

This review first ran in the June 5, 2024 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.