Celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Kenya, the eagerly awaited exhibition “Dance to the Rhythm of My Soul” is nearly completing its month-long run at the Nairobi National Museum on the 31st.
Central to the exhibition is ‘Nowness,’ exploring contemporary identity from a female perspective.
Dance to the Rhythm of My Soul dives into our sense of self through the intricate lens of memory, weaving together diverse yet shared cultural experiences across Asia and Africa.
For the first time, this exhibition unites three brilliant, internationally acclaimed artists – Oh Myung Hee, Prina Shah, and Nadia Wamunyu – whose works transcend cultural and temporal boundaries, offering profound insights into identity shaped by personal, collective, and cultural memory.
Oh Myung Hee is renowned for her mastery of mother-of-pearl, acrylic on canvas, and Geonchil – a traditional Korean lacquering technique embodying Korean cultural heritage, blending beauty, functionality, and profound respect for nature and craftsmanship.
However, for her Venice exhibition, she began incorporating family photos, seamlessly merging traditional techniques with contemporary materials, themes, and concerns to craft new narratives.
Her work on show features two cycles, each exploring significant themes in Korean women’s history.
The first cycle focuses on Korean Giseang, who were highly trained artists in music, conversation, and poetry, akin to Japanese geishas. Revered as fashion icons and intellectuals, these women graced royal courts and scholar-officials’ homes.
Her work celebrates their femininity, freedom, and desire, boldly challenging societal norms with materials such as mother-of-pearl, eggshell, and Geonchil lacquer. Her art salutes the Giseang’s audacity, courage, and trailblazing spirit in the fight for Korean women’s freedom.
The second cycle, “Ganggangsullae” or “Moondance,” captures the exhilarating harvest-time performance where women sang and danced all night, expressing their innermost thoughts without societal judgment. Traditionally, in Korea’s male-dominated society, women were restricted from singing loudly or going out at night. But during the Chuseok festival, they revelled in Ganggangsullae, seizing a rare chance to break free and express themselves with abandon.
Oh’s art, despite confronting the pain and conflict of history, carries an enduring message of hope, celebrating the indomitable spirit of women who carved out their own paths.
Following its premiere in Nairobi, the exhibition aims to travel to Seoul, London, Amsterdam, the Middle East, together with other significant art centers.
The aim is to incorporate local artists at each venue, fostering an exchange of ideas and perspectives to highlight the importance of personal memory and cultural identity in contemporary art worldwide.
Award-winning artist Oh Myung Hee is a graduate of Sejong University and an Honorary Professor of College of Art & Design, at Suwon University, South Korea.
She has exhibited extensively, including a solo exhibition at London’s Saatchi Gallery, The Garrison Chapel, London, the Kaze Gallery, Osaka, the Galerie Bhak, (Bhak Young- Duk), in Seoul, and at the Espace Miromesnil, in Paris.
