Sookoon Ang

NEW RELICS is an installation that immerses viewers in a metaphysical exploration within the complexities of time-space continuum. The work evokes a sense of timelessness, transporting observers to an ethereal realm where the past, present, and future coalesce.
Consisting of two towering inflatables, each representing a potent symbol from different eras and cultures intersecting in an undefined space. The first inflatable takes the form of Buddha’s hand and the other is a replica of the remaining hand of the Roman statue of Constantine. These larger- than-life balloons transcend their physical presence and form a psychological landscape where time becomes malleable and the boundaries between past and present blur.
In this science fiction-like encounter, the synthesis of two distinct worlds prompts contemplation on the understanding of time. The inflatables become portals, offering glimpses into different temporal dimensions. As viewers stand amidst these colossal hands, they experience a visual juxtaposition that invokes reflection on the essence of existence. This essence connotes the impermanence of human achievements and the transience of ideology, power and empires. We are reminded that our current moment is just a bubble— a fleeting point within an eternal cycle.