The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) is delighted to present Nature's Echo, a new series of exhibitions delving into the intricate relationships between humanity, nature, and technology amidst the global climate crisis. The inaugural show, Beyond the Human-Centric Perspectives, invites visitors to explore diverse artistic lenses that challenge traditional views and offer fresh insights into the natural world, on view at the KCCDC February 29 through April 5, 2024 including extended evening hours for the local community event Art Walk Dupont on March 21 and April 5 (6-8 PM, RSVP below).

In this exhibition, three Korean artists employ diverse media to explore this central theme. Hana Yoo delves into the complexities of laboratory rats, wild rats, and machine learning in her video installations, seeking a non-hierarchical system of coexistence between humans and nature. Bo Kim’s archival images of museum specimens challenge conventional narratives of human categorization and modern taxonomy. Hyewoo Shin, through affectionate examinations of plants, presents botanical representations that defy human-centric agendas, offering sincere portrayals of nature's essence.

As they navigate the exhibition, visitors are encouraged to embrace these diverse perspectives and rediscover the profound beauty and complexity of the natural world from new vantage points. Embark on a journey of exploration and discovery where the boundaries between human, animal, and machine blur, and new possibilities emerge.

Beyond the Human-Centric Perspectives will remain on view at the KCCDC February 29 through April 5, 2024 during regular visitor hours (M-F, 10 AM-noon & 1-5 PM) and during two extended evening showings as part of ArtWalk Dupont on Thursday, March 21, including remarks by artists Bo Kim and Hyewoo Shin, and on Friday, April 5 (6-8 PM both days, RSVP below). Nature’s Echo will also include future 2024 exhibitions at the KCCDC as well as local institutional art collaborations to be announced. 

Special Events: ArtWalk Dupont & Artist Talks

Third Thursday

Thursday, March 21, 6-8 PM

Delve deeper into the artists' works and personal stories through in-person talks by Bo Kim and Hyewoo Shin. RSVP required to join the artist talk (below); exhibition open to walk-ins.

Program (UPDATED)

6:00 - 6:30 pm | Check-in

6:30 - 7:00 pm | Exhibition Tour (self-guided) 

7:00 - 7:30 pm | Artist Talks 

7:30 - 7:45 pm | Q&A with the Artists and Curator

First Friday

Friday, April 5, 6-8 PM

Program (UPDATED)

6:00 - 6:30 pm | Check-in

       6:30 - 7:30 pm | 7:30 - 8:00 pm | Artist Talk with Hana Yoo

       7:30 - 8:00 pm | 7:30 - 8:00 pm | Artist Talk Exhibition Tour (self-guided)

RSVP FOR THIS EVENT!

About the Artists

Bo Kim is an artist, researcher, and educator based in Amherst, MA and Northern Virginia with a background spanning art therapy, oriental painting, and studio arts. Her practice involves meticulously reproducing photographs from museum archives using traditional materials, while scrutinizing elements of documentation that underscore institutionalization. Kim's work has been showcased nationally and internationally, including exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Washington, D.C., and the Korean Cultural Center in New York, NY. She has also participated in artist residencies and received various fellowships, demonstrating her commitment to advancing artistic discourse and exploration.

Bo Kim

Red-Headed Woodpeckers/ Chesnut-Collared Longspur (2022)

Hana Yoo is an artist and researcher whose primary interest lies in the point where the spectrum of extremes bends into a circle and the two ends meet. Through film and installation, Yoo develops narratives in which dramatically exaggerated anthropomorphism loses its function, hoping that the subject and object dissolve into each other while leaving only the moment of transformation. Women, animals, and representations of the natural environment appear in superficial forms as the protagonists who have long been objectified, exploited, and oppressed. New technological media, institutions, and stereotyped concepts appear as tools or supporting actors that maximize the ambivalence of human perspectives on the environment, revealing the dynamics of power connected therein. Yoo’s previous and ongoing collaborations include IRI THESys (Integrative Research Institute on Transformations of Human-Environment Systems, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin), KI-Camp (AI research association organized by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the German Informatics Society), and the Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior, and Laboratory Animal Science (Freie Universität Berlin).

Hana Yoo

BareLife (2022)

Digital film (still photo of installation)

Hyewoo Shin, in her role as a full-time researcher at the Smithsonian Environment Research Center, finds a rich source of inspiration for her artistic endeavors through her daily interactions with plants. By incorporating actual seeds into her creations, she not only adds a tangible dimension to her artwork but also highlights the often-overlooked complexity and diversity of botanical treasures. Shin's exhibitions, which have garnered international attention with notable showcases including in Seoul at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea as well as in the United States, UK, and Australia, serve as a platform for her to share her deep reverence for the natural world with audiences worldwide, fostering a deeper understanding of and connection to the intricate tapestry of the plant world.

Hyewoo Shin

Seeds of Gymnosperms in Korea (2022)