28 years
The name of this large sculpture, which features a silver sphere emerging from silver waves on a black wall, is "28 Years," representing the age difference between the artist and her mother.
As the artist transitioned into adulthood and began her early career, she encountered the COVID era, which resulted in spending more intense time with her family. During this period, through numerous conversations and conflicts with her mother, the artist redefined the mother-daughter relationship. She viewed the ‘mother-daughter’ social relationship as two individuals with similar temperaments and backgrounds but starting their lives at different points.
One particularly impactful moment for the artist was experiencing something her mother had told her become a reality in her life. She described this as a moment when something 'known but not understood' became 'clear and vivid as if touched,' similar to an object rising to the surface from underwater.
Seeing this as a moment where the linear lives of two individuals intersect, the artist created a monument to commemorate the recurring patterns of life within this relationship.
This monument takes visual references from traditional Korean furniture, such as the folding screen (byung-poong) and mother-of-pearl cabinet (ja-gae-jang). These pieces are typically placed in the innermost rooms of traditional Korean houses, which were considered the primary living spaces for women. The furniture reflects the shared identity of the artist and her mother, connected by their Asian, Korean, and female identities.