This work was presented in a solo exhibition at the Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve in Suncheon, South Korea, in June 2025.
Long ago, the journey of halophytes from land to sea was not a choice, but destiny.
After a desperate struggle for survival, they quietly took root in salty tidal flats. Rather than dreaming of a better place, they embraced the harshness of the sea, creating a place of their own at the farthest edge of the land, free from competition.
As if comforting those living amidst hardship, halophytes offered sustenance in spring and beauty in autumn. They resemble elders who endure life’s many hardships, yet continue on.
Today, rapid reclamation and development of tidal wetlands have once again pushed halophytes to the brink of survival. Even so, when tidal flats are restored, these plants emerge first, becoming signs of ecological renewal.
This scanography portrait series is a record of the hidden beauty and resilience of halophytes. Reminiscent of Matisse’s cut-outs, their liberated forms echo our lives that blossom in the midst of adversity.
