“Archaepelago”: Island Intimacies ( Naeryŏk ) and Weathered Flesh in Jeju Art

This article examines how artists from Jeju Island, South Korea, envision intimacies across spatial and spiritual severances imposed by Jeju's history as a militarily occupied and developmentally expropriated island. The article proposes “archaepelago,” or archaeological considerations of islands as a way of conducting archipelagic studies. Such focusing on vertical relations reveals new resonances in lateral connections across islands. Paying attention to Jeju's grounded layers and spirituality allows a closer look at the rich efforts of artists to connect with history, environment, and ongoing spiritual practices. Particularly, these artists engage ceremonies and found organic materials to reconcile the living with the dead and with the gods. Such intimate storytelling (naeryŏk) across animate and spiritual boundaries is part of larger efforts toward transpacific decolonization.