EJ Son: Twisting and Pushing
A common phrase to explain Korean identity is ‘Koreans are a people of both han and haehak’. Through numerous historical hardships from invasions, colonisation, and wars, han has emerged from a distinct sense of frustration. The word haehak is often translated as humour, however as the derivative term hae refers to harmony; it has evolved into a form of resilience and reconciliation, ‘twisting’ han into a mode of communal liberation, as if a kind of Korean humour code. Hence, the laughter generated by haehak can function as an act of sharing communal frustration. What follows here is an attempt to trace the spirit of haehak through contemporary visual art specific to the work of Sydney-based Korean-Australian artist EJ Son.
, 2025, Enamel on bronze, 29.5 × 41.4 × 1.5 cm copy.jpg)
