The Way Home (집으로 가는 길)

In The Way Home (집으로 가는 길) , Hyun Jung Jung reflects on how she is learning to embrace the grey areas of becoming an immigrant by visualizing the uncertain belongings and blurred memories.

While living in America, Jung was often in denial of the interwoven self that she was becoming, because it felt like she was giving up on the Korean identity. But over time, she has learned the fluidity of how these cultures merge and coexist to inform one another in her. Living far from her motherland, Jung often ponders what Korean-ness means to her. In this search, she has been continuously revisiting her childhood moments, the years she lived in Korea. One example includes learning about her past through looking at old photographs from her childhood. Although she does not have memories from some of these early days, the images bring emotional reactions, reminding her that these moments are still at her core, grounding her.

The Way Home (집으로 가는 길) is a reflection of this process: embracing her family roots and childhood in Korea and adulthood in America. Shown in various mediums, the morphing and transitioning of images and colors evoke emotions that are abstract and nostalgic, yet familiar. Although this may feel obscure and faint, Jung continues to soak them in for them to become part of her journey.

The Way Home (Road #2) detail

The Way Home (Road #2)
handwoven hemp and metallic yarn, dowel, music wire
38” x 100” x 84”

금의환향 (Returning Home in Silk Robe)
handwoven hemp, silk, and metallicyarn, dowel, acetate

37” x 40” x 7”

The Way Home (Sky #2)
knit poly metallic yarn, foam, wood

30” x 20” x 3”

The Way Home (Sky #1)
knit poly metallic yarn, foam, wood

30” x 20” x 3”

Blurred Memories
knit poly metallic yarn, foam, wood

18” x 20” x 3”

Family Portrait (#1~#3)

Family Portrait (#1)
knit poly metallic yarn, foam, wood

30” x 20” x 3”

Family Portrait (#1) detail

Family Portrait (#2)
knit poly metallic yarn, foam, wood

30” x 20” x 3”

Family Portrait (#3)
knit poly metallic yarn, foam, wood

30” x 20” x 3”

Round Trip (#2)
knit poly metallic yarn, foam, wood

18” x 20” x 3”

Round Trip (#2) detail

Round Trip (#1)
handwoven hemp and metallic yarn, dowel

32” x 35”

Round Trip (#1) detail

The Way Home (Road #1)
handwoven hemp and metallic yarn, dowel

42” x 40”

The Way Home (Road #1) detail

금의환향 study (Returning Home in Silk Robe study)
handwoven hemp, metallic yarn, and wire

16” x 13” x 4”

금의환향 study (Returning Home in Silk Robe study) detail

Time Difference
handwoven hemp and metallic yarn, foam, wood, clock mechanism

9” x 13” x 4”

The Way Home (집으로 가는 길) is funded in part by the Regional Arts & Culture Council and the Office of Arts & Culture.

photographs by Mario Gallucci
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Emotions of Home