Filo Sofi Arts is proud to participate in the 2024 edition of Spring Break Art Show, LA with Mythos Unveiled, a journey into and out of the artistic tapestry of Daieny Chin, a Korean American figurative painter, born in Brazil and transplanted to Los Angeles as a child. Drawing inspiration from a rich reservoir of folktales and myths, Chin's work intertwines traditional storytelling mediums to manifest a vibrant dialogue with Korean and Chinese mythology, particularly as depicted in historic Korean art from the 1500-1800 era.
The exhibition's nucleus lies in the delicate balance between interiors and exteriors, with Chin infusing contemporary surfaces with the essence of traditional Korean artifacts. The installation features murals painted by the artist inspired by Bojagi, traditional Korean patchwork-quilts used for gift-giving, carrying objects, and to wrap and store precious items. Centering the installation is a traditional Korean table with a simplified version of Jesa, a ritual of ancestral offerings, and two traditional Korean floor mats.
Chin's oeuvre delves into the nuanced contrasts embedded in her upbringing within a conservative Christian household, where the intensity of evangelical practices contrasted sharply with the clandestine embrace of Korean superstitions and folktales by her Mother and Grandmother. This collision of belief systems and practices echoes the broader tension between Christianity and Korea's indigenous shamanistic roots, a dichotomy that gained prominence during Japan's colonization of Korea in the early 20th century.
Mythos Unveiled becomes a canvas for Chin to explore and confront the tensions within her own family, contemplating the intertwining of shamanism, community comfort rooted in Christianity, and the current movement in Korea to revive its indigenous religion.
The exhibition, a visual symphony of contrasts, offers a poignant juxtaposition as a cathartic gift for viewers to reflect on their own intersections of tradition and modernity, belief and skepticism, as they navigate the intricate layers of Daieny Chin's artistic narrative.
