Weaving the Unseen Project

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Weaving the Unseen is a large-scale textile installation that materializes the invisible labour of care into a physical and tactile spatial condition. Inspired by the structure of a mycelial network, the work envisions care as a vast, interconnected system that operates beneath the surface to sustain life. The project originated from hundreds of gesture drawings captured during the specific movements and emotions of caregiving, which were subsequently developed into patterns to create three-dimensional forms. Operating within the fragmented time inherent in a life of care, the creative process itself mirrors the subject matter; care functions not only as the central theme but as the primary methodology governing the entire practice. Primarily composed of unbleached cotton—a material that recalls the restrained tactility and utilitarian character of domestic textiles from the artist’s Korean upbringing—the installation features hundreds of hand-sewn figures that lean, press, and sag against one another. This dense field emphasizes continuity and mutual dependence, much like the underground fungal networks that facilitate collective survival. Within this continuous structure, the work integrates colored fabrics and outgrown clothing as intermittent colour points. These elements reflect the specificities of a diasporic life, introducing moments of growth, differentiation, embrace, and adaptation within the broader narrative of care. A critical element of the work is the use of shadows. As the figures overlap, they cast intricate, layered shadows that extend the work beyond its physical boundaries. These shadows symbolize the unseen influence and the lingering reach of care that persists as a vital social infrastructure even after the physical act is over. Through these relational configurations and their atmospheric echoes, Weaving the Unseen reveals care as a practice of resilience sustained through accumulation, responsiveness, and shared support.

Where it's been: 2026 Florence Biennale, Florence, Italy