Cho So Hee

Cho So Hee presents Garden Balsam Records 304, a series honoring the 304 victims of the Sewol Ferry disaster. The work captures images of people praying with their fingers dyed red with balsam flowers. The ritual was voluntarily performed by a diverse group of people ranging from a 33-month-old to a 96-year-old. Each participant dyed their middle fingers with the red balsam dye before being photographed. This act visually condenses the collective grief, anger, and mourning experienced by the community. The tradition of dyeing fingers with red balsam derives from a Korean folk belief that the color red wards off evil spirits and is associated with wishes for health and well-being. The praying hands stained red conveys a message that we should remember the victims. The red stain also embodies the social injustice, pain, and sorrow embedded in the collective memory, leaving an indelible emotional mark on the viewers through its powerful imagery.