Jinlee

Liminal Ring visualizes humanity's obsession with controlling nature while exposing the limitations of such interventions. By introducing laminar flows—artificially directed streams—into naturally occurring turbulence, this work explores the boundary between certainty and uncertainty. It highlights the tension between the order imposed by human technology and the chaotic complexity inherent in natural systems.

Humanity divides the world into domains of certainty that can be understood and controlled, and vast domains of uncertainty that lie beyond. Civilization has advanced by expanding the sphere of certainty through science and technology. Yet, the unpredictable forces of nature remain an expansive and uncharted territory.

In fluid dynamics, turbulence symbolizes the realm of uncertainty. Representing chaotic and disorderly states—whether in air currents, weather patterns, or even planetary movements—turbulence embodies the intricate complexity of nature. It resists complete control and precise prediction, challenging human attempts to impose order. Efforts like chaos theory and climate modeling reflect humanity’s philosophical endeavors to comprehend the unpredictable facets of nature.

Liminal Ring employs 384 laminar-flow-generating fans to regulate the airflow in each section, intervening symbolically in turbulence and demonstrating the human aspiration to control the uncontrollable. This meticulous intervention reflects the delicate balance between human intent and nature's resilience. The work reveals the inherent limits of human engagement with natural systems, as even the finest interventions are ultimately met with the indomitable forces of nature.

Standing at the intersection of art and technology, Liminal Ring invites viewers to question humanity’s post-Industrial Revolution approach to nature. Since the advent of industrialization, humanity has often viewed nature as a force to be conquered—an entity that can be wholly controlled through technology and a superficial understanding of its processes. This irresponsible paradigm assumes that mastering fragments of natural systems equates to dominion over the whole. However, this hubristic attitude has consistently revealed its flaws, as ecological crises and the unpredictability of natural systems remind us of the complexity we have only begun to grasp.

Through its intricate interplay of order and chaos, the work provokes a critical question: Can humanity continue to rely on fragmented, technological mastery as a means to control nature? Or must we rethink our relationship with the natural world, acknowledging its irreducible complexity and our place within it?

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Sponsored by

Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture 2024
ZER01NE 2023

Supported by

Production : 영기계예술공작소 @young__gong
Filming : DIF.FILM @dif.film
Music : IS DIFFERENT @isdifferent.co

Special thanks to

C2Artechnology
MIND DESIGN
@delightfull.kr
@fig.0fficial

Exhibitions

2024 Unfold X 2024 at Culture Station Seoul 284 Seoul, KR

2023 ZER01NE DAY at S-Factory Seoul, KR