Maedeup: Weaving Shin Yun-bok

Named after the Korean word for “knot,” maedeup evokes the weaving together of image, movement, sound, and memory. Inspired by the visual world of Shin Yun-bok (Hyewon), an 18th-century Korean painter renowned for his portrayals of women and everyday life, the work unfolds without spoken text. Foley performance, tableau vivant, live visuals, and live camera work transform his paintings into living, time-based events in which body, sound, and image converge in real time. Created by kNOT and produced by the Seoul Institute of the Arts with support from the Kansong Art and Culture Foundation, the production offers an encounter with Korean visual heritage beyond language and cultural boundaries.

An artistic initiative of the Seoul Institute of the Arts, the project brings Korean cultural heritage into contemporary performance and, through its presentation at La MaMa, into dialogue with international audiences. Led by director and professor Kim JiYoung, the production brings together professional performers connected to SeoulArts in an interdisciplinary collaboration spanning theatre, visual art, sound, photography, and live media. Kim’s recent work explores new ways of connecting Korean tradition with contemporary expression.