From October 16 through November 14, 2023, the Wilson Hall Gallery at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) will showcase a solo exhibition featuring the works of artist and printmaker Yangbin Park (b. 1981, South Korea). The exhibition, titled Border(less), displays his drawings, Joomchi (a traditional Korean papermaking technique) installations, and prints.

In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, Park deepened his exploration into the theme of borders, viewing them not solely as geopolitical demarcations but as fluid and imaginative spaces. This exploration was enriched by his study of the history of maps and insights from critical cartography. Park's research into the evolution of world maps over time brought to light the ever-changing nature of borders. His drawing series, Border(less), encapsulates the transient and mutable constructs of these man-made divisions throughout history.

Maps are fundamentally human narratives, offering fictional representations of our worldviews. They encapsulate not just geographic landmarks but also mirror cultural, political, and individual inclinations of their creators. The map-making process, laden with selection, simplification, and generalization, ensures that all maps, to varying degrees, are born from imagination.

His Map of the World series, comprising Joomchi installations and prints, delves into the delicate balance between tangible geographies and their abstract interpretations. Maps, while charting known territories, also navigate the unseen corners of our imagination. They are more than mere depictions of physical landscapes; they encapsulate political, cultural, and social subtleties. Integrating the age-old Joomchi technique into this cartographic narrative accentuates the artistic, imaginative foundation of maps. Joomchi, recognized for its labor-intensive approach, requires a precise fusion of water-soaked mulberry papers. This fusion mirrors how we perceive and depict our world: layered, intricate, and subjective.

Employing Joomchi in map-making is a potent reminder that maps aren't mere objective representations of geographical truths. They are crafted, molded, and imbued with meaning through human intervention. The rich tactile essence of a Joomchi map, with its inherent organic nuances, underscores the idea that our comprehension of the world is crafted, mediated, and in many ways, artisanal.

By harnessing this traditional Korean art form in his map-making, Park amplifies cultural intricacies and narratives. This not only underscores the influence of an artist's cultural milieu on map-making but also stands as a testament to the interpretative, creative, and deeply human essence of charting our world.

Please join us for the gallery opening reception and informal artist talk on Monday, October 16th, from 5 - 6:30 p.m. in the Wilson Hall Gallery. Talk begins at 5:30 p.m.

This event is FREE and open to the public.

Gallery Hours: Monday through Friday, 9am - 5pm.

Artist Website: Yangbin Park