sangheeut presents the first presentation of Michael Rikio Ming Hee Ho in Korea, “All things in the universe are made of pure energy, yet I’m still tired,” on view through April 14.

Ho’s work often weaves together symbolic imagery and bold-text elements. Individually, these components may appear provocative or confrontational, yet when combined, they create a compelling, ambiguous complexity. The exhibition, carefully titled “All things in the universe are made of pure energy, yet I’m still tired,” features his latest series of paintings, which depict various natural landscapes, confined within the rigid confines of 3D rectangular prisms, conveying a sense of claustrophobia and dystopia that contrasts sharply with their inherent tranquility.

Born in Hawaii in 1996, Michael Rikio Ming Hee Ho now lives and works in Tokyo. Ho graduated summa cum laude with a BA in fine arts from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2018. Studying under artists such as Barbara Kruger and Andrea Fraser, Ho’s work often combined symbols and ‘ready-made’ texts, compelling viewers to reflect on the complexities of contemporary society.

Ho has participated in group exhibitions at various galleries and institutions, including MAKE ROOM Gallery, Los Angeles (2018); Broad Art Center, Los Angeles (2018); Tokyo International Gallery, Tokyo (2020) and Watarium Museum, Tokyo (2021); and solo exhibitions at Tokyo International Gallery, Tokyo (2020, 2021, 2022); Hiro Okamoto Gallery, Tokyo (2022); and Kotaro Nukaga, Tokyo (2023).