Obstructure

Obstructure provides a series of "ob"stacles to a community of writers, visual artists, performers and anyone else with ideas to spare. These artists transform the obstacle into the "structure" for a creative endeavor. The results are gathered into a seasonal 'zine.

Obstructure is based in Seoul, but open to artists anywhere in the world. We welcome submissions of any medium.

Theme 1: Sijo

For our first ‘zine issue, Obstructure is taking as a theme sijo, a traditional Korean poetic form. A traditional sijo is a three-line poem with 14-16 syllable per line (for more on sijo, check out these examples). The first two and a half lines build up an expectation and the last half of the third line twists or destroys that expectation.  

Based on this theme, we’ll be drawing inspiration from two sijo qualities to issue obstructions.

1) Brevity - a good sijo is about telling a story eloquently with just a few strokes. Be it visual art, prose, poetry or even performance, we’ll be challenging submitters to do more with less.

2) A Twist - We’ll also be challenging artists to create pieces in their chosen medium that builds up a set of expectations only to then conclude with a twist or destruction of those expectations.

So, if you’ve read this, you were interested enough to take time out to discover what obstructure is. Why not go one step further? Click on submit and follow the instructions to be included in the first issue of the ‘zine.  

Obstructures can be completed as public transport distractions or lunch-time projects. Or they can morph into full-scale artistic collaborations. We’ll give you the excuse to get creative, how far you take it is up to you. Expressions of interest are due this Saturday, March 12. Obstructures will be issued the following week, and ‘zine submissions of completed obstructures are due Monday, April 11.

Finally, for those who want to collaborate with other artists, we completely encourage linking up and combining obstructures. For each artist involved, we’ll issue an obstructure (ie a collaboration between three people will have three obstructures to incorporate). Interested in collaborating with someone new? Check out our Facebook group for other obstructurists. 

Email us if you’re interested, starting Saturday, March 12 

Challenges will be sent out starting Monday, March 14

Obstructure deadline is Monday, April 11


Reach us at obstructure@gmail.com

Click on submit  for more information and FAQ

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