Stitched Constellations on Hanji
Hemyeong Kim Seong Heui
First Solo Digital Art Exhibition in Paris

October 15 – November 2, 2024

Hemyeong Kim Seong Heui is an artist who has been painting constellations and the universe on traditional Korean hanji paper using ink for over 40 years. As a professor at Seoul National University's Department of Oriental Painting, she has served as the director of the Seoul National University Museum and dean of the College of Fine Arts. Her works are part of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art's collection, cementing her important role in Korean art. After beginning her European journey with a showcase at Bonhams in London last year, this Paris exhibition marks her first solo show as a digital artist.

Hemyeong creates constellations on traditional hanji made from long-fibered paper, using ink and natural dyes, then connects them with lines to form the universe. Hanji, for her, is not just a medium but a material made from natural elements through traditional techniques, closely tied to her philosophical exploration. As Hemyeong explains, "Just as stars are born and disappear, human desires may be fleeting, but it is those desires that drive us forward." Her depiction of stars and the universe is a metaphor for the essence of human existence.

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This exhibition will take place simultaneously in Paris and Seoul. Using digital technology, the physical artworks will be shown in Seoul while the digital art is displayed in Paris, bridging East and West through innovative means. Hemyeong's work transcends the boundaries between tradition and modernity, nature and technology, and East and West. Her constellation series also resembles the interconnected structure of blockchain, with the stars on hanji paper reflecting the fundamental nature of digital art as light.

For Hemyeong, this exhibition holds even more significance. Her journey as an artist, which began with the dream of studying in Paris, comes full circle with the realization of her artistic vision through digital art. Her works combine digital and analog, tradition and modernity, presenting a unique aesthetic that reflects Plato’s concept of the ideal and the shadows of reality.

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The exhibition in Paris will be held at ArtVerse, a digital art space located in the Marais district. Co-founded by Sebastien Borget and Arthur Madrid of The Sandbox, and curated by digital art curator Grida, ArtVerse is one of Europe’s leading hubs for digital culture, hosting major digital artist exhibitions and Web3 community events.

The exhibition will run from October 15 to November 2, simultaneously in Paris and Seoul. On October 25, Hemyeong will visit the Paris venue to host a special talk and cocktail event with guests. We invite you to join this meaningful occasion.