Joo Lee Kang’s art delves into the complex, symbiotic relationship between humanity and nature, presenting a perspective that transcends the traditional notion of nature’s subjugation by human will. Through her delicate pen drawings and intricate mixed-media installations, Kang explores themes of ecological change, the transition of living organisms, and the inevitable evolution of life forms as they strive for survival together. Her work challenges the idea of opposition between humanity and nature, instead offering a broader, neutral view that reveals their interconnectedness.
At first glance, Kang’s drawings may appear ornamental and elegant, framed in crisp white, but a closer look uncovers a more unsettling reality. The flora and fauna depicted are grotesque and mutated revealing the intricate and sometimes disturbing consequences of human interaction with the environment. Revealed in Kang’s work are teeming ecosystems on the brink of transformation, encouraging viewers to reflect on the hidden consequences of human influence.
Kang’s works are deeply metaphorical, offering a vision of nature and humanity not as opposites, but as threads woven together into a single fabric. With a steady, obsessive hand and the stark simplicity of black ballpoint pen, Kang creates a visual language that speaks to the complexities of the natural world—both beautiful and unsettling. Her art compels us to consider the delicate balance we share with the environment and our role in the ongoing evolution of life on Earth, presenting a nuanced reflection on the nature of survival, change, and coexistence.
