Title Jajanga
Year 2022-2023
Medium Digital Video
Dimension, Duration 3:05, Various dimensions
Photo, Video Credit Rachel Jungeun Oh
Exhibition History
I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU- EVERY WOMAN BIENNIAL 2024 – New York, USA, 2024
A Digital manipulated video, Exploring the Themes of Sleep and Death in the Korean Lullaby “Jajanga”
"Jajanga" is a traditional Korean lullaby passed down through generations. Through my project, I seek to explore how the Korean lullaby "Jajanga" preserves Korean immigrants' cultural spirit and connects it with future generations. Sleep is essential to our lives, just as death is. They are connected in that we need rest to have tomorrow, and death is in our lives to continue the next generation's lives. This cycle of life is what keeps us going day after day, year after year.
To understand the meaning behind "Jajanga," it is essential to look at its themes in-depth. At its core, this song speaks to the power of acknowledging death as something natural rather than being seen as an end. It highlights the importance of accepting our own mortality and understanding that we are all connected by death. "Jajanga" also tells us to find reassurance in our natural surroundings, embracing life in all its forms from dusk to dawn. This message has become especially suitable for many Korean immigrants living abroad who feel disconnected from their homeland due to language barriers or cultural differences. By preserving their cultural spirit across generations through "Jajanga," these immigrants can remain connected with their heritage regardless of geographical location.
The production of this film took a great deal of planning and effort by combining multiple techniques, software programs, audio/visual technologies, and the most basic human expression - dance. My concept began with storyboarding how body movement, like the nurturing comfort between mother & child, could be utilized in visual form to illustrate energy flow. To capture those intimate sounds, I recorded Jajanga using my voice and additional drum archives and then edited these effects using Logic Pro software to create repeating soothing tones. Next came choreography aided by Touchdesigner layout construction which incorporated an Azure Kinect camera to track movements and a video projector projecting image source over three minutes long. This was all nicely incorporated together through professional editing applications such as Premiere Pro and After Effects before reaching its final cut.
I had Christina Yuna Lee and Theresa Hak Kyung Cha in my mind during my performance, reflecting on similar moments they faced in Chinatown while being taken from us too soon. Part of me felt a deep sadness over the inequity the Asian American community has faced over the years, often not receiving the same protection and safety as other citizens within our own country. By bringing this work to life, I aim to sympathy them and provide some peace for those still dealing with pain all these years later. This project seeks to highlight how technology can be used not only for entertainment purposes but also for meaningful cultural exploration and preservation. Also, Through exploring the themes of sleep and death found within "Jajanga," I hope to create an immersive audio-visual experience that provides insight.