âA few years ago in New York, I saw Nam June Paikâs 1974 monumental piece, âElectronic- Superhighway : Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii.â A neon map of the USA embedded with TV-monitors playing clips from different sources representing the cultural identity of each state. For Kansas, the center of the map and of this piece itself, Paik created a montage of âThe Wizard of Oz.â Through this work, Paik illustrated a diverse nation using media technology that would become increasingly prevalent in our society. I was inspired by Paikâs anticipation of a future where communication networks act as a bridge between different people and cultures. The colors in my piece reference the visual vocabulary of the movie: yellow brick road, ruby red shoes, Emerald City, poppy field, etc. By using Braille, I create an opportunity for the work to be experienced not only visually, but also by reading it tactilely.â
Call Me by Your Name, 2019 Lego bricks on plexiglas 120 x 100 in. (304.8 x 254 cm)
âThis piece was created as a part of WorldPride/Stonewall 50 in 2019 and was displayed as public art in the Lower East Side. Since this festival was a celebration of LGBTQIA communities, I chose to use the LGBTQIA movie âCall Me By Your Nameâ to create a mural work. I translated this movie script into English Braille and constructed the translation visually with Lego bricks. The movie script is edited to fit in the site - specific space, but I retained the storyline's flow. I wanted to bring awareness to a language that is often overlooked by people who are not visually impaired. Using Braille to write out the script connects multiple communities in one public place, making it a more intersectional piece. Viewers may be drawn to the colors of the work and the novelty of toys, but what they really find in the code are lives that have historically been hidden. Bricks connect these experiences visually and literally.â
ěë§ ë ężě ëë / Yamma Ni Ggumeun Mwoni / Hey, Whatâs your dream 2020
Lego bricks on wood
20 x 20 in. (50.8 x 50.8 cm)
âBTSâs song lyrics from âNo More Dreamâ written in Korean Braille number codes. I see a connection between Nam June Paikâs art and BTSâ music. Nam June Paik believed that digital media and communication networks would connect people and culture. BTS actually executed Paikâs vision playing a role as digital natives. I wrote BTSâ lyrics into Braille and converted this to number codes, which resemble binary codes underlying common communication tools.â
I Should Love Myself 2020
Acrylic on wood
16 x 24 in. (40.64 x 60.96 cm)
âExcerpted a line from popular BTSâs song, converted to Braille system in English and then translated to designated colors and painted. âBTSâ âLove Myselfâ written in Braille patterns. I used Braille as an art medium when I first came to the US in 1991. Experiencing a new culture and using a different language made me realize how frustrating it can be to live and communicate in a new place. I felt like I was trapped in a dark room, unable to see or feel. I wondered if blind people feel this frustration as well, being closed off from many aspects of society.â
Previous
Next
