Sun Young Kang
Memories, Veiled VIII, 2024
Inkjet print on fine art paper, organza, wood frame
23 x 12 x 1 1/2 in
58.4 x 30.5 x 3.8 cm
58.4 x 30.5 x 3.8 cm
SK0022
Copyright The Artist
Further images
In Memories, Veiled (2024), a series of photographs are covered and wrapped with semi-translucent fabric. Kang took the photos during her residency last winter at the mansion of Yaddo in...
In Memories, Veiled (2024), a series of photographs are covered and wrapped with semi-translucent fabric. Kang took the photos during her residency last winter at the mansion of Yaddo in Saratoga Springs, NY. Inspired by a picture capturing the artist's late mother almost tied in her bed, all covered by translucent plastic curtains, this project represents Kang's visual exploration of the room within the mother's mind during her final years, when she was isolated due to Alzheimer's and the pandemic. It reflects her sense of isolation, longing, and struggle, as well as the uncertain reality and confusion she likely experienced. Additionally, it serves as a visual contemplation of the artist's own recurring dreams and the feelings of being unable to communicate, access, or understand her mother during that time.
The photograph as a medium, serves as a bridge for visual interactions, originally captured through the artist's eyes, and are now perceived by the audience through their own eyes. The mansion, a recurring motif in every photograph, represents both the private and the public, inviting yet isolating. Laden with a history of grief and loss, it carries the weight of memories and the longing for connection. It serves as a visual anchor, encompassing not only the physical space but also the layers of emotions and narratives intertwined within it.
The deliberate gesture of overlaying photos with organza fabric obstructs visual perception, encapsulating the emotional weight that permeates the space. The visualization of the unapproachable realm of time and space creates a sense of distance and mystery. Viewers are invited to experience the frustration, uncertainty, and inaccessibility depicted in the work. Kang seeks to evoke a shared sense of longing and the desire to find answers. The lack of clear vision invites contemplation of themes such as isolation, uncertainty, and the struggle to understand and be understood.
"My hometown is no longer home without my mother residing there. I searched hard but found no traces of her anymore. However, my mother still exists in my dreams, in a world of her own. In my subconscious, I reach out, but reality disrupts the connection."
- Sun Young Kang
The photograph as a medium, serves as a bridge for visual interactions, originally captured through the artist's eyes, and are now perceived by the audience through their own eyes. The mansion, a recurring motif in every photograph, represents both the private and the public, inviting yet isolating. Laden with a history of grief and loss, it carries the weight of memories and the longing for connection. It serves as a visual anchor, encompassing not only the physical space but also the layers of emotions and narratives intertwined within it.
The deliberate gesture of overlaying photos with organza fabric obstructs visual perception, encapsulating the emotional weight that permeates the space. The visualization of the unapproachable realm of time and space creates a sense of distance and mystery. Viewers are invited to experience the frustration, uncertainty, and inaccessibility depicted in the work. Kang seeks to evoke a shared sense of longing and the desire to find answers. The lack of clear vision invites contemplation of themes such as isolation, uncertainty, and the struggle to understand and be understood.
"My hometown is no longer home without my mother residing there. I searched hard but found no traces of her anymore. However, my mother still exists in my dreams, in a world of her own. In my subconscious, I reach out, but reality disrupts the connection."
- Sun Young Kang
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