Emerita Baik, The softest place on earth
Emerita Baik
The softest place on earth
Robert Heald
230 Leftbank
Cuba Mall
Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington)
Aotearoa (New Zealand)
17 September – 16 October 2021
The Softest Place On Earth explores the Korean folklore Dokkaebei. I am drawn to how these beings are portrayed to be complex, sharing qualities of human experiences even though they appear mythical and different. These creatures can be viewed as a metaphor for the challenges that Korean migrants face everyday. The artworks take the form of stuffed Dokkaebei clubs, similar to magic wands, juxtaposed on a quilt background.
This body of work is a development from the quilt series, I Love More Than Two Loves. I was interested in how creating a sculptural presence to the quilting techniques could resonate ideas of failed dreams, displacement, and the difficulties of integrating within society.
— Emerita Baik
Emerita Baik, The softest place on earth. Installation view, Robert Heald Gallery, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, September 2021
Emerita Baik, Summer sun that slowly rises, 2021 , silk, sateen wool, cotton, denim and recycled polyester filling, 180 x 120 x 44 cm
Emerita Baik, Summer sun that slowly rises (detail), 2021 , silk, sateen wool, cotton, denim and recycled polyester filling, 180 x 120 x 44 cm
Emerita Baik, Heaven’s only door, 2021 , silk, sateen wool, cotton, denim and recycled polyester filling, 16.4 x 135 x 50 cm
Emerita Baik, Heaven’s only door (detail), 2021 , silk, sateen wool, cotton, denim and recycled polyester filling, 16.4 x 135 x 50 cm
Emerita Baik, The softest place on earth. Installation view, Robert Heald Gallery, Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington, September 2021
Emerita Baik, Journey through my universe, 2021 , silk, sateen wool, cotton, denim and recycled polyester filling, 226 x 146 x 46 cm
Emerita Baik, Journey through my universe (detail), 2021 , silk, sateen wool, cotton, denim and recycled polyester filling, 226 x 146 x 46 cm
Emerita Baik, Journey through my universe (detail), 2021 , silk, sateen wool, cotton, denim and recycled polyester filling, 226 x 146 x 46 cm
Emerita Baik, The softest place on earth. Installation view, Robert Heald Gallery, Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington, September 2021
Emerita Baik, Ride on these midnight skies, 2021 , silk, sateen wool, cotton, denim and recycled polyester filling, 170 x 144 x 46 cm
Emerita Baik, Ride on these midnight skies (detail), 2021 , silk, sateen wool, cotton, denim and recycled polyester filling, 170 x 144 x 46 cm
Emerita Baik, The softest place on earth. Installation view, Robert Heald Gallery, Te Whanganui-a-Tara, September 2021