Installation view of
《Métissage》 ©ARARIO GALLERYARARIO GALLERY presents a solo exhibition 《Métissage》 by Yohan HÀN, through June 7 at
its Seoul branch.
Yohan HÀN explores forms of intuitive
sensation through the body and action, working across sculptural objects,
performance, and media installations. This exhibition features over 20 works
created between 2022 and 2025.
The title of this exhibition, “Métissage,”
is a French term meaning “mixing” or “blending.” It refers to the process in
which different elements come together to create new identities and discourses
through fusion. HÀN’s practice forges connections between elements rooted in
primitive rituals and indigenous belief systems and the sensory experiences
shaped by today’s digital media environment.
Installation view of
《Métissage》
©ARARIO GALLERYHe examines how digital technologies alter
our perception of the body, while interrogating the endurance of “physical
sensation” in an era where “physical presence is increasingly elusive.” His
work centers on the concepts of resonance and sensation, exploring how modes of
communication between material bodies are transformed within the digital
environment.
One of the key elements in HÀN’s work is
the drum, crafted from animal hide. It serves not only as a percussive
instrument but also as an instrumental object used in shamanistic rituals
across various indigenous cultures. The drum has been regarded as a symbolic
instrument that mediates between the visible and invisible realms, as well as
the corporeal and the spiritual. It enables communal resonance and ritual
communication.
Drawing from diverse drum-making
traditions, HÀN integrates these techniques into his creative process, using
performance to reactivate forgotten gestures and to engage audiences through
tactile, embodied interaction.
Installation view of
《Métissage》
©ARARIO GALLERYFor HÀN, skin is not merely the body’s
surface but a sensory threshold—an interface between the inner self and the
external world. Through its constant processes of transformation and shedding,
the skin becomes a symbol of the body’s ever-shifting boundary.
By stitching skin and layering its
textures, HÀN evokes physical connection and sensory awakening, inviting
viewers into a space of shared vulnerability and embodied empathy. This
exhibition showcases a wide range of works that emerge from his ongoing exploration
of “constantly experimenting with new forms in the present moment, where the
past and future resonate.”
