Yang Eunbong (B. 1974 / Korea)
“Reflecting the vulnerability and empathy of contemporary individuals through the voodoo doll ‘VOO’”
@eunbong_yang
The artist’s work explores the emotional scars and inner darkness that gradually accumulate as individuals strive to survive within society and interpersonal relationships. In order to be accepted as respected members of society, people are often placed in vulnerable positions, forced to endure circumstances against their will, or used to serve the interests of others.
Reflecting on these experiences, the artist became drawn to the symbolic image of the “voodoo doll.” Although such dolls—cursed and pierced with needles—are not common in actual Voodoo religion, the versions found in literature and film embody the darker side of human nature. The artist focuses not only on the one inflicting the pain but also on the doll that silently endures suffering until it is discarded, and from this, created “VOO”: a fragile yet empathetic character that mirrors both the artist’s inner self and the condition of contemporary individuals.
In this presentation, VOO is a tiny doll with the heart of an ordinary person, carrying stories and emotions drawn from daily life. Through these works, viewers are invited to confront vulnerability, loneliness, empathy, and the silent struggles hidden beneath the surface of ordinary life.