Floating Fragments 

Flickering Shores, Sea Imaginaries - Sea Art Festival, Busan Biennale - 2023. Curated by Irini Papadimitriou

Today, the world’s population is three times larger than what it was in the mid-twentieth century, and in November 2022, the globe’s population reached 8 billion people. With increasing numbers of people also comes an inevitable growth and increasing demand for urban development, and while cities become densely populated, they expand into rural peripheries. 

Floating Fragments serves as a commentary on the swift and uncontrolled growth of urban development. With an increasing demand for space to accommodate a fast growing population, the expansion of cities has not only disturbed the delicate equilibrium of natural habitats but it has also obscured our cultural heritage. 

The artwork draws inspiration from local Korean architecture, and in particular traditional roof tiles, presenting us with a partially submerged roof over water, and creating an unsettling perspective. This prompts us to reflect on the current trajectory we are navigating, highlighting the discord between urban development and the preservation of nature and heritage.

The artwork also calls attention to the risk of flooding, the impact of which is being felt in many areas and communities across the world, and is likely being exacerbated by climate change. As we continue to warm the planet with greenhouse gas emissions, and water warms and expands, and as sea levels rise, the frequency and intensity of extreme flood events, and coastal flooding will probably continue to increase leaving more communities vulnerable.