OHDO (Younseok Oh) Solo Exhibition
Hidden Memories – Romantic Sublime
April 1–12, 2026
Opening Reception: April 2, 6–8 PM
Asian & American Art Foundation is pleased to present Hidden Memories – Romantic Sublime, a solo exhibition by OHDO. On view from April 1 through April 12, 2026, with an opening reception on Thursday, Apr. 2nd, from 6-8 pm, the exhibition brings together a compelling body of work that explores the intersection of memory, spirituality, and healing through a contemporary reinterpretation of shamanic philosophy.
At the core of this exhibition lies OHDO’s ongoing inquiry into human nature and the unseen forces that shape both individual and collective consciousness. Drawing from Korean shamanistic traditions, the artist approaches art-making as a ritualistic act—one that seeks not only expression but transformation. His works function as visual invocations, bridging the material and immaterial, the visible and invisible, the personal and universal.
A central theme of the exhibition is embodied in the series Peace Please. Far from a simple plea, the phrase becomes a profound spiritual invocation. Within a shamanic framework, peace is understood not merely as the absence of conflict, but as a state of equilibrium between humanity, nature, and the cosmos. OHDO’s work calls for the restoration of this balance, suggesting that disruption in one realm reverberates across all planes of existence. Through symbolic forms and layered materials, the artist constructs a space for reflection—an arena where inner and outer worlds may realign.
Equally significant is the symbolic presence of the peony in Flower King. Interpreted through a shamanic lens, the peony embodies the energy of fire—an element associated with transformation, purification, and renewal. Its vivid presence in OHDO’s work signifies the cyclical process of destruction and rebirth, echoing ritual practices in which fire serves as a conduit for spiritual cleansing. In this context, the flower transcends its decorative function, becoming a powerful emblem of spiritual resilience and the potential for both personal and collective flourishing.
OHDO’s multidisciplinary practice spans painting, drawing, installation, and video. His distinctive use of hanji—cut, layered, twisted, and illuminated—creates dynamic spatial experiences that dissolve the boundary between two-dimensional and three-dimensional form. Light, an essential component of his work, acts as both a material and metaphor, revealing hidden structures and evoking the intangible presence of memory and spirit.
The exhibition also reflects the evolution of OHDO’s major series, including Silver and I, Letters and I, and Herb, each grounded in themes of purification, language, and healing. From early explorations of reflective surfaces to intricate paper installations embedded with symbolic codes, his work consistently engages with the idea of art as a vehicle for restoration—of the self, of memory, and of the world.
Hidden Memories – Romantic Sublime invites viewers into a contemplative space where fragments of memory, nature, and spirituality converge. Through a visual language that is both deeply personal and universally resonant, OHDO proposes a vision of art as a healing practice—one that seeks harmony not only within the individual, but across society and the broader cosmos.
Ultimately, the exhibition gestures toward a renewed understanding of interconnectedness. Beginning from the artist’s own process of healing, it extends outward to imagine a more balanced and peaceful world—one in which the spiritual and material coexist in dynamic equilibrium.
OHDO’s work has been recognized for its unique integration of contemporary art practices with shamanistic philosophy, positioning him as a distinctive voice in the discourse of spiritual abstraction and artistic healing.