Solace in Nature
Solace in Nature
Solo Exhibition by Jae Hi Ahn
October 3 - October 31, 2024
Opening Reception: October 18, 6:30-8:30 pm
Workshop: Saturday, October 26th, 1pm-3pm
at
Yant Art Space
72-50 Austin St 2nd Floor, Forest Hills, NY 11375
Solace in Nature is inspired by Queens community's natural surroundings and The Condolence Letter that my 16th-century ancestor wrote to his late wife who passed due to complications with postpartum. My ancestor, Minhak Ahn, placed the letter with Joseon Dynasty White Porcelain set inside the coffin. It was discovered by my father around 400 years later. It's currently Korean Cultural Heritage, because it was not only written in early Korean Hangul but also Joseon Dynasty was famous for Sexism against women. Men were the Sky and Women were the Ground.
I am hoping to bring out Community well-being to the Queens community. Racial and ethnic minority groups reported experiencing Covid-related discrimination in the Queens community where many Asian populations are located in. I would like to dedicate Solace in Nature to the people around the community who have been suffering through the loss of loved ones, Anti-Asian racism, and gender inequalities of minority women.
Solace in Nature will include Watercolor with Paper Cutout, Photography, & Ceramic Sculpture on the wall inspired by plants from Queens community and Korean Cultural Heritages. Korean Cultural Heritages and objects represent millions of people's stories during the Covid-19 Pandemic. I am hoping to ease the pain of the loss with the healing energy of Queens community's natural surroundings. For this project, the images of Korean Cultural Heritages will store Griefs, Memories, and Hopes.
This exhibition is made possible in part with public funds from the Queens Arts Fund, a re-grant program supported by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA).
Jae Hi Ahn
Jae Hi Ahn is a Korean-born, New York-based artist. Ahn’s work has been presented widely in New York at venues that include Sunroom Project Space at Wave Hill, Bronx; Chashama, NYC; Steinhardt Conservatory Gallery at Brooklyn Botanic Garden; Broadway Windows at New York University; The Field Sculpture Park at Art Omi, Ghent; Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, NYC; LMCC’s Arts Center at Governors Island; Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, Cazenovia, NY, and Nathan Cummings Foundation, NYC. She has been awarded grants from NYFA Queens Arts Fund, the Puffin Foundation, Brooklyn Arts Council Community Arts Regrant (NYCDCA), Urban Artist Initiative Fellowship, NYC, and has participated in residencies at LMCC Swing Space, NYC; Ragdale Foundation Residency, Lake Forest, IL; and Sculpture Space Residency, Utica, NY. Her work was selected as the Artist of the Month at Bric Rotunda Gallery, Brooklyn, and is currently included for the Curated Artist Registry at White Columns, NYC. Her work has been reviewed in the New York Times, The L Magazine, The Brooklyn Paper, The Brooklyn Rail, and Untapped New York.
