The SESI-SP Digital Art Gallery in São Paulo, Brazil, is hosting a remarkable large-scale audiovisual installation titled "Golden Mold" by Korean visual artist Seungyoun Lee from November 4 to 24, 2024. The exhibition is being organized by the Korean Cultural Center in Brazil and produced by Seletivo.art and TRANSiPOT Art, with support from Centro Cultural FIESP. This innovative presentation transforms the content of Lee's book "Floresta do mofo dourado" (Forest of Golden Mold) into an immersive digital art experience projected onto the façade of the gallery located on the famous Avenida Paulista.
The exhibition is part of the Korean Cultural Center in Brazil's ongoing efforts to promote environmental sustainability through art, particularly in celebration of the upcoming COP30 climate conference. The work invites viewers into a sensory journey that explores the hidden systems of nature and examines the complex interdependence between life, death, and regeneration. Through this artistic lens, the installation addresses themes of ecological balance and environmental consciousness that are central to global climate discussions.
At the heart of "Golden Mold" is an imaginative narrative centered around a mythical organism called the Golden Mushroom tree. The story unfolds as two different worlds converge within the same forest ecosystem, with the Golden Mushroom emerging from the natural ecology of fungi that regenerate after death. The artistic concept draws inspiration from how mushrooms and fungi naturally grow on fallen trees, decomposing leaves, and the remains of vanished creatures, ultimately returning vital nutrients to the forest's life cycle. In this poetic interpretation, death becomes the essential link that generates new life, reflecting nature's continuous cycle of renewal.
The installation features sixteen unique Golden Mushroom trees, each with distinct movements and characteristics that create a dynamic visual experience. In every scene, various animals and plants appear alongside each tree, harmonizing with it and expanding the overall narrative. These sixteen trees are interconnected through underground golden footprints that serve as an invisible mycelium network, representing the way fungi sustain forest ecosystems and connect all forms of life in nature.
The central character, named Hwanggeum, serves as the protagonist who embarks on a transformative journey through this magical forest. As Hwanggeum leaves his original world and passes by each tree, he illuminates the golden footprints, creating a trail of light that connects the various elements of the forest. When he finally reaches the center of the forest and joins hands with the forest's energy, the trees undergo a dramatic transformation, merging into a gigantic forest that becomes a world of regeneration where death and life are beautifully intertwined.
Seungyoun Lee, the artist behind this compelling work, is a visual storyteller who believes deeply in the power of narrative art. She describes herself as someone who dreams of becoming a transcriber of colors, an alchemist, or a master storyteller through her artistic practice. Lee's creative process involves collecting and transforming myths, ancient history, and extraordinary accounts that challenge the boundaries of imagination. She also draws inspiration from stories she encounters during her travels, continuously weaving these experiences into new narratives through her drawings and creating works in various formats.
The structure of "Golden Mold" follows a deliberately repetitive pattern that blurs the traditional boundaries between beginning and end, effectively reflecting nature's endless cycles of growth, decay, and renewal. This artistic choice reinforces the central theme of environmental continuity and the interconnectedness of all living systems. The exhibition runs daily from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., allowing viewers to experience the installation during nighttime hours when the projection can be fully appreciated against the urban backdrop of São Paulo.
The timing of this exhibition is particularly significant as it precedes COP30, the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, which will take place in November 2025 in Belém, Pará, Brazil. COP30 is recognized as one of the most important global events addressing climate change, bringing together world leaders, scientists, non-governmental organizations, and civil society representatives to discuss concrete actions for combating environmental challenges. Through art installations like "Golden Mold," cultural institutions are contributing to the broader conversation about sustainability and environmental awareness in preparation for this crucial international gathering.
