[The Great Cetus] is a work inspired by the imagination of a giant whale living in the Milky Way, which became a constellation in the night sky. It was created with 2,023 colorful patterns that embroidered the twinkling stars in the night sky, depicting a whale listening to the mysterious stories of the universe and dreaming of a new world. However, during last year’s Nowon Moonlight Walk, the artwork was swept away and destroyed by torrential rain and hail. It was a sudden disaster. The whale was torn apart and damaged as the water surged during a brief downpour, sweeping it along the Danghyeon stream. Climate change became a harsh reality that hit this place.
Yet, over the course of a year, it was brought back to life. Because it was a work made of hanji, which is a renewable material, it could be restored. Through the meticulous process of reconstruction using eco-friendly techniques, the whale took on new meaning. The whale now wraps itself in richer colors and rises powerfully. The returned whale urges us to imagine a world beyond the climate crisis. It also reminds us to believe in the perseverance and wisdom that reside within us.