Sayart.net - ′Massless People′ by Jung Mingi: Exploring Fleeting Identities in a Fast-Paced World

  • September 06, 2025 (Sat)

'Massless People' by Jung Mingi: Exploring Fleeting Identities in a Fast-Paced World

Maria Kim / Published October 17, 2024 09:26 PM
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마고 2, 162x227cm, Drawing with a sewing machine, ink, acrylic painting, 2024

From October 11 to November 1, 2024, Gallery Imazoo will showcase Massless People, a solo exhibition by artist Jung Mingi. This three-week-long exhibition invites viewers to contemplate the fleeting nature of human identity in modern society. Jung uses the metaphor of “massless people” to describe individuals whose presence or identity is transient and ever-changing. These are people whose existence feels increasingly abstract—whether they are mythological figures, personified abstract concepts, media figures that appear and disappear rapidly, or even contemporary individuals gradually fading from relevance.

In today’s world, as human relationships evolve and information moves at lightning speed, many of us feel as though the people we interact with, or even our own identities, are weightless—subject to disappearance or transformation at any moment. Jung’s Massless People dives into this reality by employing materials such as fabric, thread, needles, and industrial sewing machines to visualize these transient states. His works incorporate a blend of drawing with sewing techniques, creating pieces that explore the delicate balance between intention and spontaneity.


덩어리의 초상-샐러리맨, 50X40cm, Digital printing, 2024

The concept of "massless people" is a reflection of our fast-paced, hyper-connected society, where human interactions are often fleeting, and memories of those we encounter are quickly forgotten. Jung’s use of fabric as a medium speaks to the fragility of human connections—people become threads in the vast tapestry of life, woven together and then unraveled. His work delves into how these impermanent relationships, identities, and interactions leave behind only traces of what once was.

Jung’s exploration of the "massless" extends to themes of life and death, permanence and disappearance. In his works, human existence is represented as a pattern, a motif that continues even after the individual has faded away. The artist is not focused on preserving his art for eternity but rather embraces the idea of crumpling stitching, and deconstructing forms. This process symbolizes the ever-shifting nature of life—what was once solid becomes fragmented, and new patterns emerge from the disassembly.


덩어리의 초상-와우각상쟁하사, 50X40cm, Digital printing, 2024

At the core of his work is the notion of “human patterns” or inmun—representations of human intellectual and spiritual endeavors. These patterns, formed through each person's unique life experiences, distinguish one life from another. When life ends, only the traces of these patterns remain. Jung’s art, therefore, is a reflection on those who have become invisible—whether they are mythological heroes, abstract personifications, or historical figures whose tangible presence has been lost over time.

The exhibition also addresses broader themes of co-existence with various life forms. Jung’s intricate stitching and fabric manipulation serve not only to visualize human lives but also to convey respect for other species and the interconnectedness of all living beings. The notion of masslessness applies not just to people but also to the delicate balance of life on Earth. As Jung emphasizes, his mission is to restore the lost "mass" of these fading identities, making his art a tribute to the ephemeral nature of existence itself.


Harmony-Lapis lazuli, 163x131cm, 2024, Drawing with a sewing machine on linen, Jetso, Acrylic Painting

Through the use of sewing machines, the artist creates rapid, intentional yet improvisational drawings—lines stitched onto fabric that form both two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes. His work spans a wide spectrum of forms, from flat surfaces to sculptural, tactile pieces, all of which explore the tension between creation and disintegration.

In Massless People, Jung Mingi captures the transient nature of human life, offering viewers a chance to reflect on the fragility of identity and the impermanence of human connections. His art, rooted in the everyday tools of sewing, reveals the layers of human existence, touching on themes of life, memory, and the inevitable process of disappearance. This exhibition is a profound commentary on the weightless, fleeting moments that define us, even as we struggle to hold onto a sense of permanence in an ever-changing world.


Sayart / Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com

마고 2, 162x227cm, Drawing with a sewing machine, ink, acrylic painting, 2024

From October 11 to November 1, 2024, Gallery Imazoo will showcase Massless People, a solo exhibition by artist Jung Mingi. This three-week-long exhibition invites viewers to contemplate the fleeting nature of human identity in modern society. Jung uses the metaphor of “massless people” to describe individuals whose presence or identity is transient and ever-changing. These are people whose existence feels increasingly abstract—whether they are mythological figures, personified abstract concepts, media figures that appear and disappear rapidly, or even contemporary individuals gradually fading from relevance.

In today’s world, as human relationships evolve and information moves at lightning speed, many of us feel as though the people we interact with, or even our own identities, are weightless—subject to disappearance or transformation at any moment. Jung’s Massless People dives into this reality by employing materials such as fabric, thread, needles, and industrial sewing machines to visualize these transient states. His works incorporate a blend of drawing with sewing techniques, creating pieces that explore the delicate balance between intention and spontaneity.


덩어리의 초상-샐러리맨, 50X40cm, Digital printing, 2024

The concept of "massless people" is a reflection of our fast-paced, hyper-connected society, where human interactions are often fleeting, and memories of those we encounter are quickly forgotten. Jung’s use of fabric as a medium speaks to the fragility of human connections—people become threads in the vast tapestry of life, woven together and then unraveled. His work delves into how these impermanent relationships, identities, and interactions leave behind only traces of what once was.

Jung’s exploration of the "massless" extends to themes of life and death, permanence and disappearance. In his works, human existence is represented as a pattern, a motif that continues even after the individual has faded away. The artist is not focused on preserving his art for eternity but rather embraces the idea of crumpling stitching, and deconstructing forms. This process symbolizes the ever-shifting nature of life—what was once solid becomes fragmented, and new patterns emerge from the disassembly.


덩어리의 초상-와우각상쟁하사, 50X40cm, Digital printing, 2024

At the core of his work is the notion of “human patterns” or inmun—representations of human intellectual and spiritual endeavors. These patterns, formed through each person's unique life experiences, distinguish one life from another. When life ends, only the traces of these patterns remain. Jung’s art, therefore, is a reflection on those who have become invisible—whether they are mythological heroes, abstract personifications, or historical figures whose tangible presence has been lost over time.

The exhibition also addresses broader themes of co-existence with various life forms. Jung’s intricate stitching and fabric manipulation serve not only to visualize human lives but also to convey respect for other species and the interconnectedness of all living beings. The notion of masslessness applies not just to people but also to the delicate balance of life on Earth. As Jung emphasizes, his mission is to restore the lost "mass" of these fading identities, making his art a tribute to the ephemeral nature of existence itself.


Harmony-Lapis lazuli, 163x131cm, 2024, Drawing with a sewing machine on linen, Jetso, Acrylic Painting

Through the use of sewing machines, the artist creates rapid, intentional yet improvisational drawings—lines stitched onto fabric that form both two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes. His work spans a wide spectrum of forms, from flat surfaces to sculptural, tactile pieces, all of which explore the tension between creation and disintegration.

In Massless People, Jung Mingi captures the transient nature of human life, offering viewers a chance to reflect on the fragility of identity and the impermanence of human connections. His art, rooted in the everyday tools of sewing, reveals the layers of human existence, touching on themes of life, memory, and the inevitable process of disappearance. This exhibition is a profound commentary on the weightless, fleeting moments that define us, even as we struggle to hold onto a sense of permanence in an ever-changing world.


Sayart / Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com

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