Soojin Kang’s exhibition takes its title from a poignant line in David Lynch's 1980 film The Elephant Man. The protagonist, John Merrick, whose severe physical deformities make him a subject of both curiosity and cruelty, reflects, ‘sometimes I think my head is so big because it is so full of dreams’. This line speaks to Merrick’s rich inner world - his intelligence, sensitivity, and aspirations - contrasted with his outward appearance that society deems as monstrous. This sentiment resonates deeply with Kang’s exploration of the relationship between external form and internal narrative, serving as a metaphor for the tension between surface and substance and which are key themes in her work. The contrast between the solid, weighty concrete sculpture and the delicate, intricate textile pieces reflects this divide, alluding to how a surface can only hint at deeper complexity.
Kang’s work engages deeply with materiality. The unyielding nature of cement and concrete sharply contrasts with the delicate sensitivity of her textiles, creating a dialogue between strength and fragility, permanence and transience. Robust concrete sculptures are complemented by intricate textile aspects which are made from natural fibres like raw silk, hemp, and jute, woven, knotted, and wrapped into organic, textured forms. The muted hues and fragile qualities of these materials intensify the contrast with the concrete, further exploring the tension between the transitory and the enduring.
Kang consistently investigates the relationship between the organic and the industrial, the handmade and the manufactured. By juxtaposing soft textiles with rigid structures, she challenges conventional perceptions of materiality, blurring the boundaries between the natural and the constructed. This merging invites reflection on the dialogue between the tangible and the immaterial, between outward appearance and inner complexity. Through her exploration of woven materials, Kang expands the sculptural potential of textiles, highlighting the duality between the physical and the ephemeral.
