The skin of a tree
2024 | Solo Exhibition | COSMO40, Incheon
Exhibition Dates: November 30 – December 13, 2024
Venue: COSMO40, Curtain Room (4F)
Opening Hours: 12:00–18:00
Address: 9, Janggogae-ro 231beon-gil, Seo-gu, Incheon
Performers: Kang Jungmin, Milena Lorek, Lee Eunseok, Choi Jihoon, Choi Hyungjun
Support
This exhibition was supported by the Incheon Metropolitan City and the Incheon Cultural Foundation, as part of the 2024 Art Creation Support Program.
The ‘Skin of a Tree’ project originated in Germany, inspired by the imagery of a tree split into two branches. This tree evokes the image of an inverted human, with a surface reminiscent of the delicate texture of human skin. The bark of the tree is fragile enough to crumble by hand and is easily wounded, but with time, these marks fade and the tree mends itself. Through this process, the tree grows larger and becomes
stronger.
This concept of regeneration and recovery applies to humans as well. While humans can lose their lives from a few critical wounds, they also possess the potential to recover and rebuild, much like trees do. Although humans appear to stand at the top of the food chain, this ‘fragility of the skin’ highlights both similarities and differences between human skin and tree bark. Inspired by this idea, the work ‘The Skin of a Tree’ was
brought to life.
This piece portrays humans with resilient skin, capable of healing even after being wounded, using the robust bark of a tree as armor. In the work, humans are depicted as stronger and more resilient beings. The artwork was conceived during the outbreak of the war between Ukraine and Russia.
For some, the war might have been nothing more than a few photos on a screen or a handful of lines in an article. However, the suffering of those wounded by the conflict was real, and the artist bore witness to the brutal tearing of fragile human skin amidst the devastation. In response, the artist sought to transcend the political calculations of war and convey a wish to grant all wounded individuals resilient skin, offering them a protective shield through this piece.
This piece is created by layering natural latex onto the bark of a tree, one coat at a time, forming a fabric-like material from the textured surface of the bark. The combination of tree bark and latex is transformed into wearable tree garments, reshaped to suit the human form. It serves as a symbol of reconstruction and repair, conveying the message that both wounded trees and humans can rise again through their shared processes of healing and recovery.
The Skin of a Tree
Performance-based installation using natural latex and reeds | Dimensions variable | 2024
The skin of a tree
2024 | Solo Exhibition | COSMO40, Incheon
Exhibition Dates: November 30 – December 13, 2024
Venue: COSMO40, Curtain Room (4F)
Opening Hours: 12:00–18:00
Address: 9, Janggogae-ro 231beon-gil, Seo-gu, Incheon
Performers: Kang Jungmin, Milena Lorek, Lee Eunseok, Choi Jihoon, Choi Hyungjun
Support
This exhibition was supported by the Incheon Metropolitan City and the Incheon Cultural Foundation, as part of the 2024 Art Creation Support Program.
The ‘Skin of a Tree’ project originated in Germany, inspired by the imagery of a tree split into two branches. This tree evokes the image of an inverted human, with a surface reminiscent of the delicate texture of human skin. The bark of the tree is fragile enough to crumble by hand and is easily wounded, but with time, these marks fade and the tree mends itself. Through this process, the tree grows larger and becomes
stronger.
This concept of regeneration and recovery applies to humans as well. While humans can lose their lives from a few critical wounds, they also possess the potential to recover and rebuild, much like trees do. Although humans appear to stand at the top of the food chain, this ‘fragility of the skin’ highlights both similarities and differences between human skin and tree bark. Inspired by this idea, the work ‘The Skin of a Tree’ was
brought to life.
This piece portrays humans with resilient skin, capable of healing even after being wounded, using the robust bark of a tree as armor. In the work, humans are depicted as stronger and more resilient beings. The artwork was conceived during the outbreak of the war between Ukraine and Russia.
For some, the war might have been nothing more than a few photos on a screen or a handful of lines in an article. However, the suffering of those wounded by the conflict was real, and the artist bore witness to the brutal tearing of fragile human skin amidst the devastation. In response, the artist sought to transcend the political calculations of war and convey a wish to grant all wounded individuals resilient skin, offering them a protective shield through this piece.
This piece is created by layering natural latex onto the bark of a tree, one coat at a time, forming a fabric-like material from the textured surface of the bark. The combination of tree bark and latex is transformed into wearable tree garments, reshaped to suit the human form. It serves as a symbol of reconstruction and repair, conveying the message that both wounded trees and humans can rise again through their shared processes of healing and recovery.
The Skin of a Tree
Performance-based installation using natural latex and reeds | Dimensions variable | 2024