Jiha Moon “All Kinds of Everything” Exhibition in SCAD-Atlanta

There was a great turn-out at Jiha Moon’s artist talk at SCAD-Atlanta last week. “All kinds of Everything” exhibits Moon’s work of newly adapted skills- layered silk screens, and other works on paper and fabric. The complexity of her pieces is reflected in the mixed media she chooses, expressions of her multi-cultured and multi-ethnic background. Jiha Moon is a Korean native who moved to the United States 10 years ago to pursue her MFA. She decided to settle down here and eventually started a family.

Moon carefully selects materials that work within her multi-culture, multi-dimensional concepts.  At first glance, her work, I felt, was very Oriental because of the techniques and materials used: calligraphical brush stokes, color usage, Korean silk quilt and traditional Korean Hanji paper- which has been used for thousands of years. At second glance, however, I discovered the uses of acrylic paint, which only emerged a few decades ago, several pop icons we see everywhere: McDonald’s big M, Hello Kitty, Starbucks logo, Florida Orange, the Georgia Peach and so on. Moon incorporates materials that are significant to her, such as her mother’s wedding gown, her grandmother’s textiles/ handmade goods, Eastern and Western embroideries… etc. Viewing Moon’s work is like treasure hunting- I not only learn about the artist but also find similarities to myself.

The familiar, found objects appear everywhere in the world, but their meaning could be different from person to person, race to race, culture to culture. Moon explained a few examples and the Paisley pattern bandanna was one of them I can recall. The original pattern design of the bandanna originated in India/Iran and was used in decorating royal regalia, crowns, and garments. But the design spread worldwide, eventually becoming the standard Western cowboy bandanna pattern we now see everywhere. The women in Moon’s mother’s hiking club wear the same color bandannas so they can spot each other easily while  in the mountains. This is what the bandanna means to her.

I had so much fun learning how Moon relates and incorporates everything she collects into her work. No matter how ordinary or mundane, she makes these objects look beautiful and timeless. What and inspiration for junk collectors like me, hoping one day those little things we collect can be used in an artful and meaningful way!

- Joi Huang, Graphic Designer at Stanley Beaman & Sears

More on Jiha Moon from wiki.

Check it out when the show is still on!

All Kinds of Everything
Gallery 1600 at SCAD Atlanta
Gallery hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The exhibition is free and open to the public.
Moon’s work is also featured in a group exhibition, Four Atlantans, at Saltworks Gallery until August 3.