Ocean. Moon. Sky.
Ying Bonny Cai
July 1, 2019 - September 30, 2019
Korean Cultural Center New York
Call for Artists 2019 Program
Sarangbang Special Exhibition
The Korean Cultural Center New York is pleased to present a special installation, “Ocean. Moon. Sky” by Ying Bonny Cai in the Center’s unique space, the sarangbang, as part of the Call for Artists 2019 program.
Sarangbang (사랑방), a traditional Korean reception and study room, was a multi-use space for male scholars and noblemen in the Joseon Dynasty. This space involves various elements of traditional Korean culture. Nowadays, the use of the room is open to everyone and has expanded to a more interactive space. To reflect these changing interpretations of the sarangbang and to emphasize its communicative power, Ying Bonny Cai has been selected to feature a work that engages with this specific room.
Ying Bonny Cai is a designer dedicated to expressing comfort, intimacy, and play through apparel. Her work combines researching traditional East Asian costume, experimenting with innovative and unconventional techniques, as well as collecting precious narratives. She is passionate about reviving culture and histories through contemporary design and showcases how fluid lines and spacious forms are harmonious with nature.
In Oceanmoon, Cai creates a pair of hanbok inspired by the relationship between her parents. The theme of Ocean and the Moon originates from the Chinese characters of her parent’s names. The work reflects the subtle relationship between these two forces and their affection towards each other. Joint Pojagi Ensemble embodies Cai’s interests in clothing produced with Pojagi, traditional Korean wrapping cloths, that are draped-over and attached to bodies. Sky Ladder, is an ode to Cai’s mother and father, representing admiration and camaraderie, history and hope.
Cai is an apparel and textiles designer who recently graduated from Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Dual Degree Program with a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Studies and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Apparel Design. She currently lives and works in New York City, and was recently chosen to feature her senior year collection at New York Fashion Week in September 2018.