White Cranes and Snowfall

In 2023, UK-based artist, Young In Hong, visited the demilitarised zone that divides the Korean Peninsula.

The area, once the site of war, is now a haven, a place where nature has reclaimed the land. Rare cranes now inhabit the zone along with many other endangered creatures and plants.

In an artwork inspired by the sight of cranes in the area, Young In Hong has created a collection of footwear for the birds, woven from natural materials, standing on a ground of pebbles. The piece brings together the craft of making jipsin, the ubiquitous flat sandals of Korea with the humorous idea that cranes might make individual choices when it comes to footwear. It is a wry look at the relationship of endangered craft traditions and our impact on the natural world.

See more:

http://younginhong.com/work/

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_{Photo by Ahina, courtesy of the artist and Real DMZ Project.}