Installation view
of “When the water rises” ©Johyun GalleryJohyun Gallery presents a solo exhibition
“When the water rises” by Hwang Ji Hae, through February 16. This exhibition
highlights the unique artistic world of Hwang Ji Hae (b. 1975), an artist who
explores vitality and essence through soil and nature.
Hwang Ji Hae is known for creating original
gardens that blend traditional Korean aesthetics with modern design elements,
viewing the coexistence of nature and humanity as the essence of life. The
exhibition features a garden installation using netting structures and milkweed
plants, which capture the delicate forms of nature within a dimly lit space.
Installation view
of “When the water rises” ©Johyun GalleryA room filled with the scent of soil, the
“Soil Room,” narratively explores the primitive vitality of life, reminding us
of our fundamental essence. The slender milkweed seeds, as fine as needles,
fall into the mesh net, descend to the ground, and embark on their journey for
propagation, quietly showcasing the cycle of life.
Following the shadows cast by the milkweed,
visitors are led deeper into the exhibition, arriving at the “Soil Room,” a
dimly lit, cave-like space. The room is covered with rich, fertile soil brought
from Gijang County, Busan, and features a minimalist composition with only a
single bench. This setup encourages visitors to focus entirely on a sensory
experience dominated by smell.
Installation view
of “When the water rises” ©Johyun GalleryThe
artist shares, “We live in a coexistence of the visible and the invisible, but
at some point, what we think we ‘know’ has remained superficial. I wanted to
showcase how milkweed seeds, thinner than strands of hair, create unseen forms
underground, how the morning sun speaks through plants, and how the invisible
microclimate at the surface preserves this world with beauty and strength.” She
describes the exhibition as “a story about the small and delicate things
between the sky and the earth.”
Ji Yeon Lee has been working as an editor for the media art and culture channel AliceOn since 2021 and worked as an exhibition coordinator at samuso (now Space for Contemporary Art) from 2021 to 2023.
