Times Reimagined": Chun Kwang Young's Stunning Exploration of Interconnectedness and Sustainability

Step into a world of wonder and interconnectedness at the Palazzo Contarini Polignac, as South Korean artist Chun Kwang Young invites you to experience his extraordinary art and philosophy in the exhibition "Times Reimagined". With over 40 large-scale mulberry-paper reliefs, sculptures, and installations, the exhibit takes visitors on a journey of interconnectedness between living beings and socio-ecological values.

One of the highlights of the exhibit is Chun's use of hanji, a Korean mulberry paper, as the primary medium of his creation. This paper has been made for centuries by hand from the bark of the mulberry tree and is known for its durability, which redefines the notion of a life cycle through its over a thousand-year lifespan. Chun has used hanji to create metamorphic creatures that resemble living beings, as well as spectacular scenes with historical and cultural symbolism.

The use of hanji in Chun's art underscores its ecological value as a champion of reproduction and circulation, and it encourages visitors to think more deeply about their connection to the natural world. The artworks in the exhibit that Chun collected and dismantled from second-hand old books are rare treasures in today's digital society, emphasizing the value of paper, the knowledge and wisdom it conveys, and the memories it evokes.

In addition to Chun's works, the exhibit features the site-specific Hanji House, a foldable architectural structure created by Italian architect and urban planner Stefano Boeri. Built with timber and textile membrane on soil, Hanji House is a practical model of "paper-tree architecture," which can be viewed as a "lightbox" from a distance. Its design is inspired by ancient East Asian practices of paper-folding and tangram, as well as traditional Korean and East Asian houses based on simple geometric modularity.

Inside Hanji House, visitors can experience a real-time interactive art installation created by media artist Calvin J. Lee. The installation transforms triangular hanji packages created by Chun Kwang Young into virtual form, providing visitors with a tranquil and immersive environment to explore their inner selves as they walk through the interior of Chun's works.

Overall, the exhibition "Times Reimagined" is an exceptional display of Chun Kwang Young's works, highlighting his creative use of hanji and his vision of interconnectedness between living beings and the natural world. With the addition of the Hanji House and interactive art installation, the exhibit provides visitors with a unique and engaging experience that will leave them with a deeper appreciation for the beauty and ecological value of paper and the interconnectedness of all living things.