Beasts and Blossoms

“I observe the violence that human beings are capable of. In a world like ours, I feel increasingly distant from what it means to be human.” With these words, Si On introduces us to Beasts and Blossoms, an exhibition that creates a contemporary parable about human identity and reflects on the violence that underlies culture.

The exhibition features a selection of works previously presented in Born with a Void at Le Scalze (Naples) in 2022, alongside new pieces. This combination allows us to trace Si On’s artistic journey—from quotations and travesties of motifs taken from the visual cultures of the East and West to the baroque splendor, sensuality, and theatricality of her new paintings. Guided by instinct, her works explore the complex relationship between harmony and decay, beauty and ugliness. Standing between her connections to Asian roots, especially Korean shamanism, and Western traditions of art and pop culture, the artist tackles complex themes such as identity, sadness, anger, and sexual politics, transforming traumatic experiences into a powerful and accessible artistic language.

Si On invites us to confront a duality that seems innate to humanity, capable of turning the world into a paradise and, moments later, into hell. In Beasts and Blossoms, Si On investigates the eternal struggle between gods and monsters, a conflict that renews itself over time and manifests in ever-new forms. These mythological battles reflect the daily challenges we face, revealing our fragilities. “Yet, in these difficult times, I find the strength and potential to grow and change,” the artist confesses. Her works thus become a path toward renewal and peace, a rediscovery of one’s roots and an alignment with the rhythms of nature.

Observing Si On's paintings reveals a surprising and captivating complexity of colors, especially given the dark and tormenting themes the artist explores. Her works, though marked by vibrant bursts of color, conceal figures that hide in the shadows or dissolve in their surroundings, creating an atmosphere of suspense. A sense of danger lurks beneath the surface of apparent calm, like a silent predator poised to strike or an identity that can no longer remain solid and firm. Details such as a furtive eye—a silent judge of our actions—or a forceful finger emerging to silence intensify the feeling of unease and reveal a constant and intimidating presence.

Si On's strength lies in her ability to balance the beauty of color with a subtle warning, creating a visual dialogue that questions and provokes. Her works are not mere representations but psychological spaces where serenity is continuously threatened by looming darkness.

Beasts and Blossoms is an immersion into the human soul, a reflection on our inner battles, and an invitation to seek balance and meaning in a symbiotic relationship with all living beings.

Si On (1979, Korea) moved to Poland after living in Japan and New York City, where she currently lives and works. In her practice, she explores the many connections, depths, and richness of one's inner life, celebrating the idea that a person is a dynamic mix of experiences, emotions, and influences. She captures the complex interplay of internal conflicts and creates her art as a rich and intricate tapestry. By incorporating everything—from rubbish and small objects to significant and meaningful items—she mixes the low and high, the obvious and the useless, welcoming and manipulating all elements. She is constantly reinventing, repainting, and rebuilding her works. This harmonious and ongoing transformation fosters continuous growth and rebirth, adapting to the fluid nature of creativity.