From October 19 to December 8, Whitestone Gallery will present a solo exhibition by artist Jung Haiyun, who offers a fresh take on the relationship between humans and nature and the value of art within capitalist frameworks. Through her work, Jung reflects an inner longing for peace, symbolized by nature, and the hope that this peace can be shared with everyone. Her creative universe combines delicate color use and modern spatial analysis, showing a deep, ongoing philosophical reflection on humanity and society, as well as a commitment to exploring the essence and meaning of art. This exhibition will showcase some of her notable series alongside new mixed-media pieces, providing a comprehensive view of her expanding artistic vision.

For the first time in this solo exhibition, Jung introduces new works crafted from an unconventional material: synthetic turf, instead of her usual handmade Korean paper. By using this every day, familiar material, the artist explores new directions in her genre and conveys a bold desire for artistic freedom. Her sweeping, dynamic brushstrokes and vibrant colors on the turf emphasize expressive freedom, breaking away from the restrained details of her earlier works to delve into more instinctive, sensory aspects of the self. Jung also incorporates shopping bags as a symbol of the exchange of material and spiritual resources, portraying peace as a fundamental human desire being transferred within these exchanges. Much like a shopping bag that carries and protects its contents, her works evoke the ways humans present themselves and the processes of transferring and sharing art. Her stainless-steel shopping bags represent durability and leave room for imagination, metaphorically embodying the essence of art.

Jung’s signature pieces, Plan B and Relation, project the diversity of human life through images of titmice, examining the relationships and ideals of an interconnected society. In her Relation series, titmice perched atop open drawers symbolizes various life stories and explores the significance of coexistence and interdependence. Plan B, with its intricate threads, indirectly represents life's alternative paths and the maturity and hope that emerge from choices.