“Defenseless; Unable to Protect Oneself” Installation view ©FOUNDRY SEOULBYFOUNDRY presents “Defenseless; Unable to Protect Oneself,” the solo exhibition of Yeonghye In through May 11. After studying Textile Art Design, the artist has expanded her practice into a diverse array of textile works, spanning from sewing drawings to art furniture and objects. She captures the multifaceted nature of the inner self and explores the complexities of human relationships. Employing her unique hand-sewing techniques, the artist conveys a positive and comforting message through her distinctive works.
In this exhibition, the artist aims to occupy the entire exhibition space with her installation works, providing the audience with opportunities for physical interactions with the works and emotional transformation through various sensory experiences. The artist maintains her unique visual language by adhering to the hands-on weaving process and utilizing rough-hewn units, while expanding the scope and subject of her work to encompass the entire exhibition space. Departing from the confines of functional structure and material concepts, the artist attains freedom of expression, aiming to engage with the audience more actively and to collide and interact with them through her work.
The central theme of this exhibition lies in personal and innermost comfort attained through tactile experiences. It does not mean a one-sided consolation offered by the artist, but rather an opportunity for healing and recovery for both the artist during the production process and the audience when they experience the works. In particular, the artist displays installation artwork that dominates the whole space of the gallery with ivory-colored, soft, and thick velvet. This invites the audience to participate more actively by touching it with their hands, bumping into it with their shoulders, hugging it with their arms, and leaning against it with their backs.
