ik-joong kang lights up floating dreams on london's river thames

as part of totally thames — an annual september-long celebration of london’s river — artist ik-joong kang has installed ‘floating dreams’ beside the millennium bridge. comprising a façade made up of 500 drawings and illuminated from within, the giant geometric lantern sculpture serves as a memorial to the millions of displaced and divided people during the korean war, and a symbol of hope for the reunification of north and south korea.

all photos by peter mcdiarmid

from now until september 30, ik-joong kang’s ‘floating dreams’ will illuminate the area surrounding the millennium bridge. for this installation, the south korean artist returned home to collect drawings from the people who fled from north korea to south korea more than 66 years ago. these individuals, now in their 80s and 90s, and unable to return, were asked to revisit their memories and draw their hometowns. the artist collected 500 images — a mix of illustrations that recall both happy and sad memories of former homes — that were transferred onto pieces of​ hanji, a traditional korean rice paper. 

the accumulated sheets have been transformed into a single work of art that literally sheds light on the pain and hope of many koreans displaced by the war. through the installation of ‘floating dreams’ at totally thames, the artist brings awareness to the participants’ longing for the past, and their hope for the future reunification of their country.

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