6973 miles of force in 1 cm, an immersive and interactive installation, stems from Kang’s reflection on the weakened connections to, and longing for, her homeland. The number “6973” refers to the physical distance between Kang’s current residence in Buffalo, NY and her home country, South Korea. The distance “1cm” symbolizes the invisible force, as well as the invisible boundary in between, depicted in the gallery space by the use of a hidden magnet. The magnet pulls the needle up in the air and holds it in a fixed position, but it does not drop, nor do the two elements fully connect. “I feel emotional distance and tension can be found in every relationship – personal, interpersonal and beyond,” says Kang. “Despite an increasingly technologically-connected world, the emotional distance among our connections seems to be greater due to the fragility of virtual relationships. Religion, culture, politics, language and, indeed, all human relationships and social creations involve boundaries. This creates tension inside of us – a longing, a desire, a dream, a gap between imagination and reality, between past and future, in which we exist.”

The installation, with its vertical and symmetrical strings, is visually quiet. It is almost peaceful until a viewer sees the space between the needle and the box. Each box is empty to emphasize “the invisibility of force.” The magnet hidden inside each box physically pulls the needle up against gravity - representing time, life, connectivity and beginning to end - eternity.

"I want to suggest to the viewers that they think of this invisible tension, distance, boundary or force by immersing themselves in 6973 miles of force in 1 cm. My hope is that this immersion will allow them to dwell in uncertainty while being part of a space which exists as an experiential metaphor passing between opposites."