'Aqua Paradiso’ Explores Water as Life, Memory and Ecology Through Korean Contemporary Art

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.”

“Aqua Paradiso” is part of the “Touring K-Arts” programme supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism along with Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange. Following exhibitions in Austria and Italy in 2025, the show will be presented in Delhi as its first touring exhibition in Asia this year.

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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