Ode To Threads: Higi Jung & Mingi Jung

Enseoul is pleased to present Ode To Threads, a duo exhibition with works by South Korean artists Higi Jung (b. 1986 KR) and Mingi Jung (b. 1985 KR). This exhibition is the artists' first duo presentation with the gallery.

The word ‘thread’ is defined as a significant plot line of a story or a string of fibre used in sewing. These definitions represent all aspects of this exhibition. Using sewing machines as their brushes, the artists colour their canvases with personal stories that many of audience can resonate. Higi and Mingi are siblings from the family who has been working with textiles for generations and their upbringings have enabled them to express their identities, ideologies and experiences on their textile canvases. Emotions such as hope, sorrow and more that they encountered calmly live in the soft cotton world of the artists. Traversing a variety of genres, the artists create not only paintings but performances.

Higi’s works are poetic and empathetic. The artist softly touches aching hearts as if she tells ‘I know, I know.’ She invites audience hand in hand to her world of comfort whispering poems into ears. Her world is made of softness of textiles, comforting use of lines, soothing colours and patterns. The images of women frequently appear in the works of Higi, and it is the portrayal of her inner self. The artist believes introspection is crucial in understanding herself to be able to connect with others. For Higi, this process has been a solid foundation for welcoming her new chapter since 2019 Rijswijk textile biennial.

Mingi creates his textile paintings through collaborative works with his soulmate, sewing machine. The artist and his sewing machine breathe together and understand each other, living as an inseparable pair of life companions. The companionship they share enables the artist of flowing strokes without hesitation. Combining his art background with his inherited talent in textile, Mingi puts together different layers of media on his works. The most expressive themes emerging through his works are co-existence and relationships of humans and with animals. ‘Uri’ in Korean means us. Uri is the fundamental definition of the Korean society, and it is us rather than I. Influenced by the societal ideology on ‘us’, the artist understands that ‘I’ cannot exist without others and therefore this concept is strongly reflected on his pieces. Mingi works in experimental as well as rhythmic movements as if he is dancing rather than painting. Not knowing where his final destination would be in his every art piece, the artist embrace his adventures.