MFA Metals, Jewelry, CAD/CAM, Room 220D
Haewon Kang
“The Mind Shelter,” 82.7” x 69.3” x 2.6” , tread, wool, mirror
The artist’s resolve to become a better person than those who once tormented her has led to a profound exploration of an identity that was not fully formed during her childhood.
At the beginning of her artwork, she observed daily routines and habits that helped her overcome anxiety and fear, translating them into visual forms as a means of emotional release. Over time, this process evolved into redefining the meaning of everyday experiences through new textures and gestures, while evoking past emotions through sensory engagement and joyful memories. Gradually, her work developed into a practice of categorizing emotions more intricately and exploring diverse methods of coping.
By creating and reinterpreting thought-provoking visual elements, the artist affirms her existence as a complete and independent individual. Expressing facets of her once-suppressed identity, she confirms her ability to grow autonomously—without dependence on others, but through her own creative process and strength.
Haewon Kang
Haewon Kang is a Korean artist currently based in Philadelphia,PA.
She received her BA in Metals and Fiber from Dankook University and is currently an MFA candidate in MJCC at Tyler School of Art & Architecture. She works with materials such as metal, resin, silicone, fiber, and everyday objects like pills and nail art to explore the process of healing trauma and transforming emotion.
Recently, her research has focused on bioplastic, examining how the emotions of acknowledgment and forgiveness can be reflected through the material’s transformation. Her work centers on the sculptural expression of emotional reconstruction and inner recovery through the changing states of matter.