EXISTENCE  
Glass, soot, and charred paper on canvas, 8” x 10” x 2”





MINSIK JOO















Metamorphic Landscapes 
Genesis                                              
Divergent Realities
Minsik Joo’s work is a collection of cubes created by attaching rectangular glass pieces together. At the beginning of the series, half of the cube is empty, while the other half is filled with burnt paper, leaving traces inside. These varied marks represent the artist’s past moments, embodying the moments that remain within the artist’s inner self.

   “This repetitive act of making cubes leads to an enlightenment: living abroad as a foreigner, I realize that wherever I am, time flows continuously, and the time that has already passed and the time that will pass are no different. It is a reflective process where I find solace in contemplating my existence.”
-  Minsik Joo





Genesis explores the dual role of the artist as both creator and observer, highlighting how the artistic process itself becomes a reflective journey that shapes and informs the final work.

Through his repetitive act of creating these cubes, Joo engages in a reflective process that mirrors the continuous flow of time. This aspect of his work aligns with the idea of metamorphic landscapes, as it captures the dynamic and evolving nature of existence. Just as landscapes change and evolve over time, Joo's work illustrates how personal experiences and moments leave indelible marks on one's inner self, contributing to personal evolution.

The use of glass and burnt paper in Joo's work is highly symbolic. Glass, with its transparency and fragility, represents the clarity and vulnerability of human experiences. The burnt paper, on the other hand, signifies the remnants of past events, carrying the weight of memories and the passage of time. Together, these materials create a powerful visual narrative that invites viewers to reflect on the interconnectedness of their own lives and the transformative journey of personal growth.Joo's work not only captures the ever-changing nature of his surroundings through artistic interpretations but also invites the audience to contemplate their own processes of change and evolution. By symbolically illustrating life's transformative phases, his cubes become vessels of accumulated stories, encouraging a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of nature and personal evolution.