The Days Were Snowy But Warm
Oh Myung Hee, explores the pivotal years when ‘traditional’ South Korea began transforming into a modern-day society.
Triptych (2021/2022) by Oh Myung HeeRoyal Bridges
“My story begins with an old photograph album…”
Inspired by a family photograph, discovered in her father-in-law’s album, she was struck by the challenges and contradictions that Korean women have historically had to synthesize in order to access position, purpose and happiness.
From her father in law’s photograph album, Oh Myung Hee juxtaposes the ‘main wife’ (bon-cheo) and the ‘second wife’ (cheop) on each side, contrasting these solitary women with men emanating group strength.
Triptych2 (2021/2022) by Oh Myung HeeRoyal Bridges
“My works speak of a collective memory”
The post-war transition meant that women, historically confined to and defined by their role in the extended family for hundreds of years, began to realise their own rights and abilities to contribute to public life.
The post-war transition meant that women, historically confined to and defined by their role in the extended family for hundreds of years, began to realise their own rights and abilities to contribute to public life.
Nostalgia (2021/2021) by Oh Myung HeeRoyal Bridges
Nostalgia
Oh Myung Hee uses Hwajo technique, traditional blossom and birds, in her mixed work as representations of femininity — a force at once splendid and free — materialising women’s against the historical realities of Korea’s male-dominated society with its Confucianianism
OMH uses Hwajo technique, traditional blossom and birds, in her mixed media work as representations of femininity — a force at once splendid and free — materialising women’s emotions against the historical realities of Korea’s male-dominated society with its Confucianianism
Nostalgia2 (2022/2022) by Oh Myung HeeRoyal Bridges
Oh Myung Hee observes this transformation in the fabric of modern South Korea through a prism of Westernization, Korean traditionalism and Japanese colonial influences. In her artistic exploration, she highlights the complexities of modern Korean society and its intricacies
Nostalgia
Oh Myung Hee observes this transformation in the fabric of modern South Korea through a prism of Westernization, Korean traditionalism and Japanese colonial influences. In her artistic exploration, she highlights the complexities of modern Korean society and its intricacies
OMH (2016/2016) by Oh Myung HeeRoyal Bridges
Spring comes, goes as generations pass and lives are lived
Oh Myung Hee mixes old techniques with new materials, and technology; applying it on a series of old family photographs. In her quest, Oh Myung Hee is particularly interested in the changes that occurred amongst South Korean women in 1954.
Oh Myung Hee mixes old techniques with new materials, and technology; applying it on a series of old family photographs. In her quest, Oh Myung Hee is particularly interested in the changes that occurred amongst South Korean women in 1954.
Cabinet (1952/1952) by Oh Myung HeeRoyal Bridges
Cabinet
The artist creates video works for a black lacquered cabinet from Joju Island, where she spent her summers as a child, bringing the past memories forward to our time and space
The artist creates video works for a black lacquered cabinet from Joju Island, where she spent her summers as a child, bringing the past memories forward to our time and space
Monitor (2022/2022) by Oh Myung HeeRoyal Bridges
Marylin Monroe in Korea
Through her multimedia artistic expression and her personal story, the artist mirrors the remarkable journey South Korea has undertaken to become one of the world’s most prosperous nations.
Societal permutations were partly inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s morale boosting visit to the American troops stationed there, following the armistice in 1953. She juxtaposes the image of a traditional Korean wife in an unassuming, monochromatic dress, seated in a dignified positi
Monroe (2021/2022) by Oh Myung HeeRoyal Bridges
Monroe embodies change in Korean society
The title of the exhibition paraphrases a Monroe interview quote, in which she describes her performance in front of 17,000 American soldiers as "It was snowing but I felt warm".
The visit, during her honeymoon with newlywed Joe DiMaggio, was courageous even by Western standards and became a crucial catalyst for the women of Korea.
MemoriesoffourseasonsSummer (2021/2021) by Oh Myung HeeRoyal Bridges
Memories of four seasons
“My generation did not directly experience war; nevertheless, we share the pain of our mothers and grandmothers who bore the scars of war".
Throughout her career, she has also used an image of a flying scarf to symbolize her desire for freedom. Freedom in all aspects of life, from the chains of traditional society, to her desire to fly like a silk scarf in the wind.
A Summer Day Memories
Monroe2 (2022/2022) by Oh Myung HeeRoyal Bridges
Memories of the seasons
The Days were Snowy but Warm’, unveils at this year’s Personal Structures exhibition in Palazzo Mora, Venice at the invitation of the European Cultural Centre.Curators are Tatiana Palinkasev and Éva McGaw.
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