About the Exhibition

This exhibition is centers around the connection humans have with nature, and the power nature holds in us. Personally, nature has always been my friend, and I’ve had several powerful moments by recognizing it. Through the works I’ve created, I wanted to share those feelings I’ve felt, and to let people take a break from the world full of chaos.

Mostly due to my personal interest in photography, all of my exhibition work was done digitally. Although I’ve never learned photography, I’ve always loved taking pictures since I was young. The concept of capturing the moment amazed me. As I would often forget old memories, seeing the pictures from the past helped me to recall the memories I’ve lost. Soon it became as if the photos are the actual memories I store digitally. That is one of the reasons why I try not to modify the colors of the picture unnaturally. 

Photography enables me to capture the memories I want to keep, and to share them to others in my perspective. There is barely a limit to visually present what I wish to show; I can capture the image as real as I can. This lets me to perfectly display the works the way I want, allowing the audience to interact with the image as if they are actually standing in the picture. 

The exhibition is full of works that deal with nature that we see and feel every day: air, water, plants, and sun. For example, sunset is what we’ve all seen before. Hence, the audience can recall their memories upon each image. Since the connection exists with the artwork and the audience, I am able to evoke personal connections and emotions from the audience. Also, just like nature’s familiarity, the titles of the artworks are all in lowercase, so that it further strengthens the subtlety of nature.

Regardless of the starting point, all audiences would be able to experience a similar path of emotions and atmosphere once the audience follows where their eyes go. Following one after the other, the mood and the colour changes in each photograph.  Each image creates a similar atmosphere with the image across and balances the mood of the whole exhibition.

Whether the audience starts from the right or the left wall, they will encounter “the tree hugger” first–the strong aura of the subject sets the mood from the start. Then, goes on to the next work, which is either going to be “green” or “they’re my favourite” which lightens the atmosphere with plants filling the image. The “untitled” or “falling” then quickly deepens the thoughts of the audience to analyze the subject’s emotion. The last picture before the middle interaction is “perfect afternoon” or “good morning, good afternoon, good evening, and good night.” These capture the picturesque sunset and settle the mood so that it becomes neutral to watch the video. Played on the screen, “nature” is a combined short video of calming nature with sounds that follows. As nature leads, the video flows, and the subjects interact with each other. At this point, the audience would cross the middle point and go in the opposite order from the beginning. The audience would face a different “the tree hugger” at the end, who could be the audience themselves. 

Each of these works helps the audience to not only face the subjects but to face themselves. Many of the subjects, including “untitled” and “the tree hugger,” face the audience directly, eye to eye. These daring subjects urge the audience to think and feel like them, which strongly makes a connection between them. 

I arranged the exhibition so that there is no ‘right way’ of enjoying my exhibition. Just like nature, my work is open to everyone in every way, and it would make no difference going through one way or another. Through this particular arrangement, I wanted the audience to take in the work I’ve created fully, and come out as one of “the tree hugger,” the one who friends nature.