Science and technology not only have made our lives convenient but also made problems such as pollution, terrorists and wars. Against material abundance, many of us are experience mental poverty because of them. A trans-human is appearing amid this confusion and it is a type of human that buds up from nomad and settlement in this high tech society. A trans-human crosses borders of nations, races and regions and is not afraid of meeting and flowing like a neo-nomad. The works of artist Okran Ki are themed on these trans-human and neo-nomad concepts.

Crossing the border between science and art

Since 2010, Ki has thrown questions like how we understand the time we live in and how we should live through her works. In her works, we can see science and art, and the ideas of the people and their transformation. Watching her works, we might want to feel that we are trying to find answers to the questions she throws without ourselves knowing. Ki has showcased her works in 67 solo exhibitions, 350 group and invitational, and 70 international art fairs home and abroad. She won the Korea Value Management Award in 2019, the Korea Social Contribution Awards in 2020, and the Korea Customer Satisfaction & Innovation Management Brand Awards in 2023. 

Trans-human and neo-nomad

A trans-human settles itself between a human and a post-human and has ability superior to humans. A trans-human is connected to virtual worlds and receives more information and abilities but experiences mental disparity. Science and technology are like a double edged sword. They make our lives convenient but also cause various problems including genetic modification and income imbalance. Taking trans-human and neo-nomad as her artistic theme, she made and displayed works at a solo exhibition January this year with her messages of reconciliation between people, between cities and nature, between people and nature, and between people and objects. Also expressed in the works were the hope that overcomes the fear of impulsiveness and death. She used stainless, natural fabric, computer parts, plastic and leather to make the works abstract and symbolic. 

“Objects look different each other but I made them look like one in my works meaning reconciliation and harmony. I pursue recovery of humanity and peace on earth through my works.” says Ki.