Roots II
Dimensions (HxWxD): 380×375×265 cm
Media: 30 Pieces of 3D printed sculptures, mixed media
Year: 2024
“Where are you from?”
My work, Roots II is an installation piece from the research-based project ‘Where Are You From?’ I have showcased this piece in numerous invitational exhibitions. Furthermore, it received the esteemed Trawick Award for contemporary art. It has been reconstructed to accommodate the venue for the Kiaf Seoul 2024 special exhibition.
"Where are you from?" was one of the most frequently asked queries I encountered while living abroad. This question often implies, “You are an outsider.” Humans have consistently distinguished between insiders and outsiders to safeguard their communities since primordial times. The urge to establish boundaries is a fundamental human trait. Despite this, migration and movement have enabled humanity to advance and evolve.
Roots II is a piece that encapsulates my experience of living as an artist and an outsider for over two decades in a foreign country. The root forms conceal 30 primordial sculptures, including the "Venus of Willendorf," symbolizing a composite cultural identities.
This piece is an answer to the question, “Where are you from?” I endeavored to visually portray the universal and shared cultural development of humanity, as well as the beauty of diversity, following extensive research and a significant amount of labor-intensive effort.