Karishma Sharma, New Delhi, June, 2026 : Korean Cultural Centre India successfully hosted the convergence contemporary art exhibition “Aqua Paradiso,” which reexamines water – the source of life – through visual art. The exhibition was inaugurated on June 16, 2026, and will remain open to visitors until August 19, 2026.
The
opening ceremony was attended by several distinguished guests, including H.E.
Lee Seong-ho, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India; Dr. Sanjeev Kishor
Goutam, Director General, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA); Mr. Park
Sang-hee, Director of the National Asian Culture Center Foundation; Mr.
Sudhanshu Mittal, President of the Kho-Kho Federation of India; Mr. Kalicharan
Gupta, Indian artist; Ms. Manisha Swami, Deputy Director General, Indian
Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR); Mr. Ashish Pandey, Chief Editor,
Navbharat Times; and Ms. Saumya A. Sharma, Head of School, Arwachin Bharati
Bhawan Senior Secondary School. Their presence underscored the growing cultural
and artistic exchanges between Korea and India.
Speaking
at the opening ceremony, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India, H.E. Lee
Seong-ho said, “What makes this exhibition especially meaningful is that this
way of seeing water is deeply shared by both Korea and India. In both our
cultures, water is not only valued for its utility, but for its spiritual and
symbolic significance. In India, as I understand, water holds deep spiritual
and cultural significance. From purification rituals and sacred offerings to
the belief that a holy dip in the Ganges can purify the soul, water remains
deeply embedded in the daily life of Indian households. In this sense, ‘Aqua
Paradiso’ is not only an exhibition of Korean contemporary art, but also a
meaningful platform for dialogue and connection between Korea and India through
art.”
The
exhibition will feature four works by three artists: Kwon Hyewon’s “Liquid
Vision,” BOO Jihyun’s “Where is it going,” and eco orot’s “Ocean Tears” and
“Plastic Mandala.” Through diverse formats including media art, installation
and video, the exhibition aims to offer visitors a unique aesthetic experience
related to water.
In modern society, water is often regarded as a resource and an object of management. In contrast, this exhibition views water as a sensory being and an ecological subject. This perspective is also common in India, and audiences are expected to deeply resonate with the meanings and worldview surrounding water presented in the exhibition.
Kwon
Hyewon’s media installation “Liquid Vision” imagines rivers not simply as
natural environments but as a form of media, exploring the intersections of
sensation and technology through the flow from water sources to valleys,
wetlands and reservoirs. Through this process, the work raises questions about
how audiences perceive media and nature while suggesting new possibilities.
BOO
Jihyun is known for installation works that recycle discarded squid fishing
lamps formerly used on fishing boats. In the exhibition work “Where is it
going,” the artist visually interprets the meanings of circulation, meditation
and recycling while connecting discarded materials with the flow of nature.
eco
orot has continued creating works using discarded fishing nets and marine
microplastics to question the role of art in the era of climate crisis. The
installation “Ocean Tears” evokes complex emotions through the use of more than
400 droplet-shaped glass pieces, microplastics, discarded nets and tree
branches. Meanwhile, “Plastic Mandala” transforms plastic fragments collected
from beaches into a mandala, a symbol of circulation and blessing. The two
works reinterpret plastic not merely as waste but as a medium of memory and
emotion, encouraging empathy and a sense of responsibility among viewers.
Hwang
Il Yong, Director of Korean Cultural Centre India, said, “Through this
exhibition, I hope the people of our two countries, united by shared cultural
values and a deep respect for nature – particularly water – will deepen their
understanding of one another’s cultures and further strengthen their
friendship.”
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