T H E W I L D G A R D E N S E R I E S

These playful and dynamic sculptural forms take inspirations from nature motifs like clouds, trees, petals and seeds. The metaphor of wild garden informs not only the physical forms but also the meaning and importance of the ever bountiful changes that occurs in landscape through the dialogue with the weather, birds, insects and soil. As well as, through the nurturing of a gardener who sees beyond what is there now and embraces how the garden will evolve/cycle throughout the seasons.

The work can also be read as totems, sacred objects that serve as an emblem of spirituality and protector of space or viewer’s interiority.  Nature deities were common across many ancient cultures spanning across all continents. Hur experienced the ancient Indian Buddhist art at the Met exhibition, “Tree & Serpent” where nature motifs were used to symbolize Buddha. Such cultural lineage of Buddhism fascinates Hur as her research and inspirations are often rooted in Korean Buddhism.

Besides the specific cultural and historical references, the work poses broader question of what does it mean to have an object as a totem or protector of spirits in our contemporary space.

 B I R D S E R I E S ‘ 2 1 - 2 3

Bird is a common and symbolic motif in various cultures across the world and periods can be found in ancient ceramics as ceremonial vessels or sculptural totems. Referenced as manifestation of the supreme, longevity, immortality and good fortune, birds are often associated with divine qualities that human long for. 

Birds are in constant movement — they  “live their whole lives on the wing and they sleep on the wind” which can also symbolize humans’ ceaseless effort, longing and will to carry on with our lives. There’s a duality of spreading the wings out and flying high also the slowing down and resting to embrace any tumultuous or challenging moments — all of which make our spirits evolve.